SEASCAPE 004

oil on canvas

73 x 92 cm

2015

click on the image to go to the seascape on the site.

When my daughter sleeps at my place, I put quiet classical music on during breakfast and the preparations for going to school. Not long ago I chose ‘Die Vier Letzte Lieder’ of Richard Strauss.

Memories… After my father had passed away, I’d go for dinner with my mother once a month. After the dinner we would see a movie. She picked out the restaurant (she read the critics of a famous Dutch food journalist for where to go); I chose the movie.

It may be that I combined one night with another. That is not of importance. One recreates one’s memories. 

We went for dinner to the recently opened ‘Oriënt Express’. There came no end to all the great dishes (recipes from the kitchens of the different cities where the train passed by).

I had chosen ‘Betty Blue’, a movie that showed at the then famous theatre ‘De Movies’ in the center of Amsterdam. It was famous for its high quality and alternative choice of films, often not made in Hollywood. The interior of the cinema house was in beautiful art deco.

(click on the title to see the trailor of the movie).

We arrived early so we had a coffee. We were in the best of moods.

And then, for the first time, I heard ‘Die Vier Letzte Lieder’…

I asked for the title and composer. Ever since it has been one of my favorite music pieces.

That morning the memory fell upon me. More than 30 years later.

Thank you, mom.

Listen to

'Die Vier Letzte Lieder'

Richard Strauss

by clicking on the title.

Barcelona, 20 Februari, 2020.