What’s interesting about this painting is that it’s a blend of the English, and the American. The Met tells us that American Frank Millet (1846-1912) lived in the Cotswolds for a time, and his home was a transatlantic centre for…
writing
The Kitchen Servants – A Poem
There’s more going on in this painting than at first appears. From The Met description: “Sorgh inflects a domestic scene with the art of still life. Two maids clean fish and peel vegetables in the foreground, surrounded by gleaming brass…
The Cabbage Gatherers – A Poem
According to The Met, this is one of many fans painted by Pissarro, intended for a special fan room at an 1879 Impressionist exhibition (more in source link below). I love that Pissarro chose to dignify the work of the…
Larsson House – A Poem
My poem Larsson House is a little different to my usual ekphrastic poetry. You probably recognise the style of Swedish painter, Carl Larsson (1853-1919), as many of his children’s illustrations are still around. A painter of the Arts and Crafts…
Botanical Pears – the Illustrators
How gorgeous are these botanical illustrations of previous centuries? They encapsulate a true blend of art and science. At the time, they, and the books or journals in which they appeared, helped to expand our knowledge of the natural world….
The Fair – A Poem
The Fair Drums.Dance.Monkey.Paris dreamsIn evening haze.He offers Eve a ripened pearand couples everywhere turn to each other and kiss. ©elsp 2025 If you’re interested in the form of the poem, it’s a Fib. More on Fibonacci poetry here. More of…
Still Life with Bottles and Fruit – A Poem
Alexej von Jawlensky was an expressionist. Expressionist artists strive “to convey their inner emotions and thoughts via their works, frequently using distorted forms, vibrant colors, and vigorous brushstrokes to establish their own visual language.” – Sparks Gallery You may not…
Dinner Service – A Poem
I was so struck by the volume of this dinner service, I wanted to write about it. If you click the source link in the caption below, it will take you to The Met where you can zoom in for…
A Roman Feast – A Poem
My first prompt for “A Roman Feast” was the image at the very bottom of the page of a Roman serving vessel. I began to imagine what was actually served in it – which led to peacock, snails and dormice….
Migrant Mother – A Poem
It’s funny what we remember, and how memory is triggered. In this case, by a soup bowl. More of my ekphrastic poems can be found here. More on the huitain form here. Migrant Mother My mother made me drink pea…
Life in Arles – A Poem
I love that you can access incredible artworks through galleries’ open access policies. I encourage you to follow the links in either the quote or the caption below and see van Gogh’s painting in zoom close up. There’s no way…
Break The Cycle – A Poem
The Art Institute Chicago tells us that this painting is from a much larger portrait of a family that Manet decided to cut into sections. La Régalade means “to pour liquid from a bottle down the throat without touching the…
