Peace

Context:

A woman dressed in a blue jacket with fur trim stands serenely at a table in a corner of a room. The scales in her right hand are at equilibrium, suggestive of her inner state of mind. A large painting of the Last Judgment, framed in black, hangs on the back wall of the room. A shimmering blue cloth, open boxes, two strands of pearls, and a gold chain lie on the sturdy table. Soft light comes in through the window and illuminates the scene. The woman is so pensive that the viewer almost hesitates to intrude on her quiet moment of contemplation.

Only such introspection could lead to virtuous choices along the path of life. Woman Holding a Balance thus allegorically urges us to conduct our lives with temperance and moderation.  (National Gallery of Art)

Your Turn:

• Do you sometimes take time to clarify your values in a moment of doubt or uncertainty? 

• Do you make time in the day-to-day for times of self reflection in order to balance and check in with your emotions?

Context:

The artist, Alexander Wyant made many sketching trips. However, he suffered a stroke that left his right arm paralyzed, forcing him to learn to paint with his left hand. In 1886 his entire right side became paralyzed and he and his wife moved to a house in Arkville, in the Catskill Mountains. Although his limited mobility now made sketching trips impossible, Wyant continued to paint, creating atmospheric, freely brushed landscapes composed largely from memory. 

Your Turn:

• When you encounter moments of stress or uncertainty, what moments of peace do you reflect on?

• When you think of complete and utter peace, what image comes to mind? Is it similar to this image, created by Wyant?