Two Candles by Gerhard Richter (1982)

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Two Candles by Gerhard Richter (1982)
Gerhard Richter, Two Candles, 1982
Márta Mészáros - The Inheritance (1980)
Gerhard Richter - Two Candles (1982)
Laurits Andersen Ring (1854-1933, Danish) ~ Lille interiør med brændende lys, 1898
Like the skull, the candle has been invoked throughout art history as a poignant memento mori, the transience of its flame reflecting the ultimate ephemerality of all life. It is a symbol that is also articulated in world faiths, standing for the ardent strength of the human spirit. Whilst Richter has always considered himself an inveterate atheist and anti-ideologue, the image is a perfect tribute to the man who continues to affirm his belief in art as 'the highest form of hope'. Perhaps significantly, Richter had just turned fifty when he created his first candle painting. At this moment in his life, the motifs of burning candles and gently illuminated skulls were a means to come to terms with the passage of time. As he explained, 'I was fascinated by these motifs, and that [fascination] is also nicely distanced. I felt protected because the motifs are so art-historically charged, and I no longer needed to say that I painted them for myself. The motifs were covered by this styled composition, out-of-focus quality, and perfection. So beautifully painted, they take away the fear' (G. Richter quoted in D. Elger, Gerhard Richter: A Life in Painting, Chicago 2009, p. 262).
christies
Two Candles
For @taz-channukah-event night one, prompt Flames/Light. Yes, I know it’s night three now. I’m a mess. Enjoy some sad modern-AU baby twins!
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“Taako?”
Taako raised his head from where it was buried in a blanket. They couldn’t figure out how to turn the heater on in this (perpetually absent on business trips) cousin’s house, so it was just always freezing cold here. “What?”
Lup was standing in the doorway with her own blanket wrapped around her shoulders. “I think it’s the first night of Channukah.”
He frowned, and started counting on his fingers. “No, it starts...on a Wednesday this year. Today is…” It was impossible to know what day it was during winter break, without school to keep track of the days.
“It’s Wednesday,” Lup replied.
“Can’t be.”
“Okay, but it is.”
Taako buried his head back in the blanket. “So what?” he muttered.
Gerhard Richter, Zwei Kerzen (1982) Öl auf Leinwand
Fröhlichen 2. Advent!
Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864-1916, Danish) ~ Interiør. Kunstigt lys, 1909
[Source : Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark]