5 masterpieces - #1 matisse's goldfish

once again inspired by the summer column on page 2 of the berlingske kultur section, i'm assigning myself 5 postings this week on masterpieces that changed my life. last time it was people and things (as it turned out), this time, masterpieces of art and literature (and maybe a bit of architecture--i'm leaving my mind open, as last time i was surprised where the assignment took me). and let's face it, i need an assignment.

so, i'll start with the first one that comes to mind. matisse's 1912 goldfish. (aside: i so wish i had lived in that era--and maybe i did, but that's the stuff of another posting on another occasion.)

it was the summer of 1994, i was leaving russia alone after studying there for a semester. i had a few days in moscow and spent one of the them by myself at the fantastic pushkin museum, where this wonderful painting hangs in a wonderful, large room that's full of other matisse paintings. strangely, i found myself alone in the room, standing there before the wonder that is the dance. i turned around and across from me, there it was, goldfish.

i approached slowly, savoring the moment and savoring the fact that i had it all to myself, even the mean old guard lady who usually sits on a stiff chair in the corner was elsewhere. i could scarcely breathe. i got closer and closer to the vibrant colors. and then, there i was, standing close enough to touch it. i could actually touch it, there was no glass, just the thick layers of paint that matisse himself laid on the canvas. and no one there to stop me.

so, i did it. i touched it, gently and just with my index and middle finger. right there in the leaves near the pink flower of the lower right corner. i felt a nearly electrical thrill pass through me and i felt transformed, even if just for a moment. i had literally touched greatness. and no one would ever be able to take that away from me.