The blog
Writing & notes
Essays, notes and reflections on technology, law and life.
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Cafe Terrace at Night
Vincent van Gogh, oil on canvas, 1888 A late Van Gogh of some repute. Depicts the Terrasse du café le soir, Place du forum. I had the great pleasure of viewing this at the Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller in May 2007, The Netherlands. Read more →
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Magritte
A picture of a pipe is not really a pipe, and a daylight-filled sky can shine over a streetlamp-lit townhouse, and a painting of a window inside a painting of a sitting room can be the window in that sitting room, and a room-sized rock can gaze out of that room at the sea, and,… Read more →
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Composition with Red, Yellow and Blue
Piet Mondriaan, oil on canvas, 1921 One of Mondriaan’s earlier works that exhibited his distinctive style. Read more →
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Self-Portrait in Blue Jacket
Max Beckmann, oil on canvas, 1950 A portrait of an artist as a middle-aged man: evidently deep, pensive and chain smoking. This piece also has a captivating palette and interesting contrasts. Read more →
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The Actors
Max Beckmann, oil on canvas, 1942 In the centre panel, the Player King receives his blow; to the left, actors converse while hidden hands work beneath the stage. Read more →
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The Prodigal Son
Max Beckmann, oil on canvas, 1949 This portrayal of the biblical story stands in marked contrast to those of Bruegel and Rembrandt. The characters wear modern dress, and the palette is rich and foreboding. Read more →