Age Shall Not Weary Them 8 x 10"Canvas, prepped with gesso and cheesecloth, then covered in acrylics in brick red, creme and toffee brown. A vintage WWI picture covered with an organza Union Jack anchors the top right hand corner. Paper "Remembrance" poppies and bullet casings are scattered across the canvas along with a miniature British War medal.
The title comes from the poem For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon composed in 1914 following the Battle of the Marne. The third and fourth verses (below) have been used for over 90 years as an "Ode to Remembrance"- They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
- Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
- They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
- They fell with their faces to the foe.
- They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
- Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
- At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
- We will remember them.
This piece available at this October's Open Studio.
I just reread the first three "Maisie Dobbs" mysteries and have been hanging out in World War I. Your use of the photo covered with the organza Union Jack gives it a wonderfully other-side aspect, the suggestion of a lingering spirit. Thoughts of The Great War make me so appreciative that my grandmother and grandfather survived to come home, not just to marry, have their children, etc., but because so many did not return. Your piece speaks of that very clearly, I think.
ReplyDeleteI really love this. It touches me. Very interesting what you've done with the flag.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, what a moving piece of work. My Grandfather died in WW2, his father fell in the trenches of WW1. What a beautiful tribute you have crafted to their memory, dying as they did, in such a sad and wasteful way.
ReplyDeleteI came over via Chrissy's site, and am so glad I did.