The Blind Accordion Player is a really interesting painting . It shows emotion and a real since of artistic expression. The composition of the painting is well put together. the player's hands in the foreground appear bigger than usual in comparison to the rest of his body. But it seems like the accordion and his hands are closer to our eyes than the rest of his body. The player looks passionate about his notes and the pale colors in the painting give the impression that the player is playing sad notes or just a slow song.
I have a 1947 book of Ben Shahn's work published by Penguin Books Limited, Middlesex, England and edited by Sir Kenneth Clark. In it, he states: ". . his painting of the blind accordionist who played out his grief when Roosevelt's funeral procession passed . . . "
ReplyDeleteI haven't found any explanation for the sawed off trees in the background.