Proverbs were a popular theme in paintings. Do you know Breughel’s proverbs painting?
This is my contribution to Proverbs. A Storm in a Teacup. I have used mirrors for the lightening and matt vitreous tiles for the white. This started as a wood cut, finely chiseled from boxwood and printed. see below. Woodcuts are tiny little prints. I love this process working on a tiny block of boxwood.
Anyway, how were proverbs paintings meant to be received by the viewer?
Proverbs are older than the Bible. They were documented as a narrative to question one’s values, moral behaviour, our conduct and the meaning of life.
The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon – King of Israel.
Storm in a tea cup is first raised by Cicero, 106-43 BC. He wrote ‘Excitabat enim fluctus in simpulo’ meaning ‘stirring up waves in a ladle’
Who was Cicero? He was an orator, a Roman statesmen, writer, lawyer and scholar.
Storm in a teacup was more popularly used in 19th century to warn people of blowing things out of proportion. I think I am guilty of that at times!
aberdabbadoo 