The Banjo Lesson.

[NNadir]

1893 Henry O. Tanner, American/French b. 1859 Pittsburg, PA, died 1937, Paris, France.

Oil on Canvas

Hampton University Museum, Hampton VA.

[Greyskye]

1. Banjo lessons...

A banjo player was so poor he couldn't afford lessons; so his friends chipped in and got him banjo lessons for his birthday. They sent the greatest banjo teacher that every lived to his house. The teacher knocked on the door and the guy answered. "I'm here to give you Super Playing Abilities!" said the banjo teach.

"I'll take the soup, I haven't had dinner yet..." said the banjo player...

[NNadir]

2. Groan...

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3. I love the light.

The old man is illuminated by the paler, outside light -- experience, maybe?

The boy is illuminated by the fire inside -- energy and promise?

[NNadir]

4. It could be the artist's intent.

It's a wonderful painting, not kitchsy at all.

It's Rockwellian.

Some people, of course, claim that Rockwell was Kitsch, but that is hardly the case.

Rockwell's Four Freedoms were inspired by Franklin Roosevelt's 1943 State of the Union Address.

I love how he brought the face of Lincoln into this painting, which I regard as a great American Painting:

http://bobcrowleysr.com/resources/FREEDOM+OF+SPEECH+2.jpg

One hopes, in these times, that the next President from Illinois will be able to do as much as the last President from Illinois to save his country - with a little F.D.R. thrown in for good measure.

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5. Thanks for the link.

The first thing that struck me was the hands in that painting. Strong, steady, real -- reminded me of my grandfather's hands, thick and beaten from field work every day.

[NNadir]

6. It captures the quality of American citizenship quite well. This was the America we all wanted

and loved when I was a child.

[OakCliffDem]

7. Steve Martin could play a banjo like a wind turbine in a hurricane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrlqQ1_vZVE

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[sasquatch]

10. Awesome

[NNadir]

12. Wow. It was my priviledge to see Scruggs play on Long Island in the 1970's.

It was a fabulous table stomping concert.

Really something.

Thanx, big time.

[LynzM]

8. Beautiful

I have a real soft spot for banjos, and teaching kids music the 'old way'... :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. really wonderful. thanks for posting it, n/t

[harmonicon]

11. wow

That's just lovely. I'd like to see the real thing..... or just the not real thing, but bigger, would do.