When you pluck a flower, the branch springs back into place. This is not true of the heart's affections."
An interesting metaphor for a cynic. Or, are we all indeed so fickle that we tire of one love when its nectar is spent, like a hummingbird flitting from blossom to blossom in search of more nourishment? Renewal and regeneration are Nature's ways of ensuring the survival of the species, but the instinct toward fidelity to one's mate is often negated by our selfish need to be satisfied at the cost of our humanity.
The image of two naked Tahitian women, titled "What, Are You Jealous?", by post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin appears to be a scene depicting the estrangement of two lovers, with one turning her back on the other. The simplicity of style in a naturalistic setting, along with Gauguin's use of vibrant color, highlights the primitivism for which he is known to be in the forefront in the art world. A recent attack on another of his paintings depicting naked women together, which is being displayed at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., illustrates the passions often aroused in fans and foes alike. Whether they be covetous collectors or mentally ill homophobes (redundancy?), as in this case, art that imitates real-life can be a catalyst for either civilized discussion or mindless destruction. This is a true metaphor for the human condition.
Lawrence Durrell; Balthazar; E.P. Dutton & Company, Inc., New York, 1958; Page 22.
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