song of the lark

Let me start by saying quite honestly, "Song of the Lark" is one of the most hauntingly gorgeous paintings I've ever seen and my photo of it doesn't showcase even 1/100 of its actual beauty. The peasant girl's expression is one of serenity, the setting sun is breath-taking and it is as if you feel like you are breathing the same air as this girl. The "Song of the Lark" by French Realist painter, Jules Breton (1827-1906) is the type of masterpiece you stand in front of in total awe and have an internal dialogue filled with confusing emotions - something along the lines of, "how on earth can this 2 dimensional canvas make me feel so much?... How can a man I know very, very little about and who obviously knows nothing of me - how can Monsieur Breton stir my soul like this?!" You then go on to resent, only for a millisecond, M. Breton for manipulating your emotions, but this rightfully passes and you feel nothing but heartfelt gratitude for this Frenchman as he's touched a nerve deep inside of you that only the most sublime pieces of art, music & dance can trigger, quite often resulting in a tug at your heart, a lump in your throat or even a tear on your cheek. It's true artistic beauty, and it is a wonderful blessing we can all enjoy.

Song of the Lark 

"Song of the Lark" resides in the Art Institute of Chicago. If you haven't seen it and you have the opportunity, please go, stand in front of this young woman's image, look at her kind face, find the lark in the distance and imagine how this bird's beautiful song echoes in the mind of this peasant girl as her hard day comes to an end.