The Curator

"Well, it's not going to win any medals, if you ask me."

"Most artists don't."

"To whom do I owe the privilege of this work of "Art'?

“Impressionist sunset? God Perhaps.”

“You’d think Monet or the Almighty would put more work into it.

"It's an impressionist painting. You're supposed to feel it."

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” said the man with the mutton chop mustache, adjusting his crooked beanie. "You must be a fan?"

"I am. This work wasn't really appreciated during his life."

"I can see why not. It looks like sumpin I could do with a box of crayons."

"It's actually pretty tricky when you get down to it. For example, Monet often traced the reflection of objects in water."

"A stroke of paint here or there, it doesn't really matter."

"Obviously, you've never painted water."

“Well,” he said, adjusting his beanie."I never felt a need to."

"I mean look at it. The feint impression of the boats in the background, lazily drifting in the harbor. The orange hue of the sun as it floats along the surface of the water. The two small row boats probably belong to fisherman scouring the wharf and wondering when their next catch will be. I imagine it was a quiet morning. With only the flutter of the steamboat's wheel."

"Did you try your hand at it?"

"This?"

"Yes."

"Once when I was very young. My father bought me a box of crayons."

"Why'd you stop?"

"I grew up."

The man with the mutton chops elbowed the curator.

"Never too late to pick up another box of crayons."

"Perhaps. I have not picked up a 'box of crayons' in a very long time."

"So get one."

"What if I'm no good? It's been a very long time."

"How long was your favorite artist painting?"

"Up until very late in his life. He kept painting even though it was very difficult for him to do."

"So follow his example, and tell the critics to sod off. Tell me about this Monet guy."

"The critics said it was just a sketch. He did it from a window overlooking the harbor of Le havre, near where he grew up. He once jumped in a river, but he survived. "

"And you get all that from this one little painting.Is that what you do? Look for other artists?"

"Among other things. I look for other artists work. It's one of the few joys in life. "

"And you get a kick out of that?" Asked the mutton chop man as he stepped forward and brought his eye a few inches from the painting. He stepped back and drew hmself closer again. He looked at the curator and back at the painting.

"Would you do it?" He asked.

"Do what?"

"Live your entire life painting river boats or whatever it is you fancy?"

"Yes. Art is about life and emotion. That's what's so nice about impressionist paintings. These paintings are so expressive and non restrictive."

"I see. And what's your favorite style of painting."

"I like all styles. I have a thing for romanticism in paintings."

"You mean like huggy kissy and all that?"

The curator chuckled.

"No, romanticism was a style of painting similar to impressionism characterized by passion.It dealt with the subject matter, but I guess there was a lot of romance involved at one point."

"So in a way it's kinda like Impressionism, what with all how you feel and all that?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Give it another go."

"Maybe I will. Maybe I will.