So often in life small details can make a large difference to what is said, or seen. The gig I went to last night was great! But it was not quite what I had expected. The place in which it took place was a performance venue of which I had never previously heard …. the “Black Dyke Heritage Centre”. Clearly it is named after the famous band, based in Queensbury. It was not (as I previously thought) located in the headquarters of the band, but instead across the road in the eponymous Black Dyke Mill itself. Furthermore, I had assumed* that music might be provided by members of the band. This was not the case, however, but by a musical ensemble which had no direct connection to the famous band.
I was absolutely correct in my belief that there was to be a concert of songs by Leonard Cohen, which we thoroughly enjoyed, provided by what turned out to be a tribute band dedicated to his work. Here again, small details counted. Famous Blue Raincoat was performed as a vocal duet. This was, I’m convinced, an error of judgement. This song is essentially a personal statement, in the voice of the individual writer of a letter to a friend. Something of that singular identity was lost by performing it as a duet.
Without doubt this general rule applies in painting. At the moment I am preparing a lecture for the Regional Italian Circle, on a work by Renato Guttuso …. his Crocifissione. There is one detail I feel sure is significant, but I can’t for the life of me decipher it. A figure in the foreground holds out something in his hand. For the life of me, however, I can’t work out exactly what it is. I hope that my reading of the picture would not require to be completely re-constructed if I were to be able to identify this mystery object.
*My wife is fond of the saying that “assume” makes an ass of you (u) and me.