Something for me to remember
I have to remember to use Raphael's portrait of himself with his fencing master the next time I do theoretical discussion of anything related to authorial presence and reader response.
Raphael, like a ghost, stares directly at someone that only he appears to be able to see. The fencing master looks somewhat confused, motioning to the space in front of him---his question could be "who's that?" or it could be "what are you staring at?" Raphael has a look of understanding in his face, the look of the man in the mirror while he paints the portrait, and the understanding of his status as a work of art which is being viewed. He sees us, and we are forever forced to see him.
You know, I feel right now like I could write a whole book about this painting, but it would have to be a biography, and it would have to be written in the form of narrative fiction.
Raphael, like a ghost, stares directly at someone that only he appears to be able to see. The fencing master looks somewhat confused, motioning to the space in front of him---his question could be "who's that?" or it could be "what are you staring at?" Raphael has a look of understanding in his face, the look of the man in the mirror while he paints the portrait, and the understanding of his status as a work of art which is being viewed. He sees us, and we are forever forced to see him.
You know, I feel right now like I could write a whole book about this painting, but it would have to be a biography, and it would have to be written in the form of narrative fiction.