Faces full of Fruits and Vegetables...Arcimboldo...Musee du Luxembourg...Paris

On my way to the Future of Web Design conference, 2 weeks ago, I was browsing through the paper until I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of L' Automne part of 4 portraits illustrating the seasons.

The Face on this Automne was composed of Fruits and Vegetables.

It is one of the creations of Giuseppe Arcimboldo born in Milan in 1526.

According to In your face fruit and vegetables by Robin Blake (the article that got my attention on this topic), these paintings were so successful at the time that the artist then illustrated the 4 Elements and let his imagination run wild by creating portraits of librarians composed with books and other oddities.

Arcimboldo was admired by Salvador Dali and the Surrealists.

My choice of illustration is L' Homme Potager which could be loosely translated as the Vegetable Garden Man (picture courtesy of Agence Observatoire, thank you Celine).
This painting is not dated and can be looked at upside down or downside up.

If you live in Paris or plan a visit, take the time to stop at the Musee du Luxembourg for this Arcimboldo exhibit.
It was curated by Sylvia Ferino.

The Museum is open 7 days a week and the exhibit runs until January 13, 2008.

Funny enough,the first person to present at the conference I was going to that day, graphic artist Joshua Davis offered his computer generated version of a Chuck Close portrait with flowers.

Other Parisian Attractions: Cine Aqua...Not just Fish and Child's Play in Paris