The Art of Subtraction
The Art of Subtraction
Art is not an act of creation only; there is an art of subtraction, an art of removing the unnecessary so that the necessary can speak. You decrease to increase. Domestic arithmetic is like that sometimes.
Simplicity, it must be noted, is not a philosophy of austerity, of sterility, blandness, or detachment. There is scope for color, texture, and artistry, more so because the canvas is clean. Household treasures, like virtue, are rich stones best plain set.
Simplicity is a few things of the best.—A day not consumed by inessential bustling but carefully filled with activities important and meaningful punctuated by quiet spaces.—Not the continual cacophony of television, radio, and strife but silence seasoned with laughter, talk, and Vivaldi.—Not shelves cluttered with paperbacks read once, but lined with a few choice volumes.—Not a heart torn by conflicting affections, but a oneness of purpose. Simplicity is not ascetic; it is a pruning away of what does not matter so that we can enjoy what does.
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MRS. ARMSTRONG said...
Hi! We’ve missed you and your family at church. The front seems empty without you all. I will admit I open up my dictionary when I read your writings because the words you use are so eloquent and rich! For example, I had forgotten what cacophony meant, so I looked it up: a discordant and meaningless mixture of sounds: the cacophony produced by city traffic at midday. I just pray that my home may be exactly the opposite, as you wrote, “filled with activities important and meaningful punctuated by quiet spaces” Now unto the next word look-up: Vivaldi. ;-)
Friday, March 26, 2010 02:43 PM
MRS. ARMSTRONG said...
Vivaldi is an Italian composer! LOL
Friday, March 26, 2010 02:46 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
Antonio Vivaldi, “the Red Priest,” was a Venetian Baroque composer, priest, and violin virtuoso. He is best remembered for his series of richly textured violin concertos entitled The Four Seasons or The Contest of Harmony and Invention.
Incidentally, the Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla wrote his own version: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. It begins promisingly but very soon degenerates into... cacophony. ;-)
We’ll see you all tomorrow morning, Lord willing!
Saturday, March 27, 2010 06:47 PM
ELISSA said...
What a beautiful post! I am sorry I haven’t commented before!
Oh, I absolutely love The Four Seasons... so very beautiful!!
Thank you for this post, dear friend! —Elissa
Thursday, April 15, 2010 02:20 AM
HANDMAIDEN said...
I am glad you enjoyed the post, Elissa. The Four Seasons is so rich and textured; I never get tired of Baroque music!
Thursday, April 15, 2010 08:20 AM
Tuesday, March 23, 2010