Autumn Leaves
Millais Autumn Leaves
This is it: the first part of fall is over already. The trees on the banks of the Seine are still russet and gold, a last flamboyant display of color before the bareness of winter.
So to illustrate the turn of the season I chose this painting by John Everett Millais, as apt an illustration of autumn as his Blind Girl is of summer.
And I can’t mention autumn leaves without thinking of Edith Piaf’s interpretation of the legendary song of the same name. My blogging software now refuses to embed videos, so you will have to follow this link to YouTube.
Here is an excerpt of Jacques Prévert’s original lyrics, with my own, admittedly inadequate, English translation:
Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s’aiment
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants désunis.
But life tears lovers asunder
Very softly, without much of a fuss
And the sea erases on the sand
The footsteps of parted loves.
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I’ve never been to France in the autumn. I’m not sure I would like seeing everything bare and colorless. For me, Paris means Spring!
Piaf is one of my absolute favorites – and her “Autumn Leaves” is so poignant – I adore it.
Enjoy the fall! We’ve lost most of our leaves now, too. But, in New England, it’s expected! LOL
Lovely. now I have another wall decoration. such an embarassment of riches. thank you. I love this painting. I think I have so many choices of places, I don’t know if this bedroom, living room, kitchen or dining room.
thanks for such a delightful decision
Merci Beaucoup Madame Delors
I think, Penny, this is very appropriate for fall. Then you can replace it with another one come spring…
Well, Tristan, I have never seen New England’s Indian summer. One of my favorite seasons in Paris is winter, when the whole city, the air, the sky, the roofs… turn white.
I don’t know which I enjoyed most, the painting or the melody. The French evoke a certain enevitablity of the surrender of the nap of Autumn, here is Verlaine’s Chanson d’Automne. (1867)
Les saglots longs
Des violons
De l’automne
Blessent mon couer
D’une langeur
Monotone.
Tout suffocant
Et blême, quand
Sonne l’heure,
Je me souviens
Des jours anciens
Et je pleure
Et je m’e vais
Au vent mauvais
Qui m’emporte
Deçà, delà,
Pareil à la
Feuille morte.
What a lovely painting. The colors are so rich. And those beautiful Jacques Prevert’s lyrics.
Thanks for posting this.
Richard, Felio – I am so glad you like the painting, the song, and the association of the two. Thanks for the Verlaine poem, Richard. It is beautiful in its simplicity.
I’ve just found your blog. It is a true gem in the cyber world. I leave a small Swedish footprints behind me. I will be back!
Greetings from Sweden & Agneta
Thanks for your lovely note, Agneta, and please come back!