Friday 12 November 2010

a world within

Anna Maria Garthwaite (1688 - 1763)
Cut-paper work 1707


I look at this for a long time,
trying to absorb every detail,
and wonder at the exquisite skill.

I try to imagine the initial vision,
the fierce concentration
and the determination to complete.

I remind myself that even
the most ambitious of projects
are completed one tiny snip at a time.

18 comments:

  1. One snip at a time, 'tis true, 'tis just knowing where and what to snip and when.

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  2. My husband can do that Scherenschnitte stuff, no problem. Me, I cut out a few paper dolls for Little Lad this afternoon and just about went stark raving loony...

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  3. And I think about the fact that light levels were abysmally low indoors without electricity.

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  4. I wonder if she procrastinated by cooking elaborate dinners when she really should have been working?

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  5. Isn't that just exquisite?????!!!???

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  6. That image would be stunning if it were paper and ink. That it has all been cut out is nothing sort of amazing.

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  7. Wow!!! Do you know what the finished size of the item is? I have a wonderful chinese paper cutting of a traditional lion dance on my dining room wall that my friend cut from silk paper when she was out in Taiwan - similar principle but on a much smaller scale

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  8. There's always the fear in life that rather than make the correct snip you will actually lop a huge lump off.

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  9. Love this, what fabulous intricate work.

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  10. I am entranced! Do you mean to say this is cut from a single sheet of black paper? How big is it? WHERE is it? Are reproductions available? I would love to have this on my wall. Or under glass, on my table. I would doubtless spend hours thinking about just the different tree species!

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  11. It makes my paper cutting efforts look rather pathetic!

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  12. Yes, impressive snipping. But it must be pointed out that she could do this because she didn't have any blogs to read in the year 1707.

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  13. It's incredible! I bought a Rob Ryan book yesterday that I just cannot stop looking at. Her craft lives on.

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  14. This triggered something off in my mind. I had to go and surf the interwebs to remember: Jan Piekowski's illustrations for 'A Necklace of Raindrops' by Joan Aiken, my favourite book as a child and a major inspiration for my jewellery-making:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/93005174@N00/350061193/

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  15. Gorgeous.
    Also, LOL @ Eurolush ...

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  16. I could barely read your words as I was so lost in the illustration.

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