Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Rubenesque

It's spring! There, I said it. And I don't care if it snows again, I'm officially declaring spring at this very moment. In fact, it's raining right now and that's a tell-tale sign. So mark your calendars if you haven't already. As I've been digging around in my closet every morning this week I realized that apparently I was cruising around half naked last summer because CLEARLY I HAVE NO CLOTHES. And when I see cute new styles of cute spring clothes in the shops I feel too much like a Rubens to try anything on. What is a Rubens you ask? (Already regretting asking, huh?). You're Wednesday morning art history 101 starts right here, right now. Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) was a prolific 17th century Flemish artist. He is FOR SHIZ considered a Master and is probably most famous for his exuberant Baroque style history paintings, like this one on permanent collection at the Louvre in Paris. I've seen it, stood before it, and trust me on this, it is A-mazing. However, one of Rubens signature painting styles was depicting very sensual, voluptuous-and by today's standards fat-women, such as "Venus at the Mirror" c. 1615 (below).It was an inside joke among female peers (a.k.a. other art history nerdophiles) that when feeling especially "plump" we were like a Rubens. This is why I went to college people, so I could blow your minds and educate you with my intellectual smarts. Spring clothing shopping might just be my demise.

10 comments:

Tuttles said...

Well when you go shopping, let me know! I totally want to come! (And she has a hot butt)

Amy said...

I think I was the model for Rubens... Love the post and especially when you say you were walking around naked last spring/summer... so true! I don't know what has happened to the entire spring collection I just had to buy last April... My husband is wondering the same thing!

Lacy said...

Oh gina gina gina...

j e s s i e said...

I may not be an art history nerdophile, but I can say I totally agree with you on the whole spring clothes thing... caped sleeves that look so cute on the shelf and so not cute on me!

Mindi said...

yeah.....just tried on a swimsuit at target last night and thought i would break down in tears right under those harsh, flourescent lights.
wish i could embrace my ruben business, but it's hard when hollywood is shoving size double zeros at us. i gotta figure out a way to buck the system!!!!

abbyjane said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
abbyjane said...

Gina! I'm so glad you found my blog--even though it was decades ago...

Anyway...

It's no wonder Mom's fall out of style! We get married at one size. Get pregnant, become another. Have the baby, become yet another. Finally get back to size number 1 only to start the cycle again! I'm glad you've found a word for it.

This is why I take pride in the way my kids look and spend my minimal extra dough on them. It's only half as satisfying, but it takes your mind of the rubenesque-ness.

Rachel said...

But don't you mean...the picture was "A-ma-za-zing"!?!? G, you're too funny! And I TOTALLY feel ya on the NO CLOTHES deal...I hate getting dressed in the mornings for that very reason!

gina bina said...

I stand corrected...

It is A-ma-za-zing!

...can't believe I didn't throw that in there.

Rachel said...

Thank you very much!!! (very rarely will I correct you, but I just had to...so sorry!!!)