W'hampton Art Gallery Visit

Jan Mikulka “Jakub”

I thought it is a photograph but when I had stepped closer realized it’s not.

It is so incredibly life-like it caught my imagination with its minutely detailed and skilful rendering of skin and hair tones and very effective and I would even say powerful lightning.I don’t think I have ever seen such a stunningly amazing use of light in a portrait. I was completely blown away by it. It gave me an impression that portrait was lit up and if I stepped forward the portrait then I would be able to see much more details that I could not see because of the light and shadow falling on Jakub’s face. Because of the effective lightning I had a desire to push Jakub backwards to the shadow or pull him towards to the light to see his face clearer.

I was also touched by the slightly sulky expression, which makes him look very young.

The Black Cat

Had to read a famous short story "The Black Cat" by not less famous Edgar Allan Poe.It was first printed on August 19, 1843, in the Philadelphia edition of a newspaper called the United States Saturday Post.

I think this story is rather disturbing. Poe says that he is not mad yet how could he not be, he kills his wife and shows no shame! I think perhaps he was insane.

I also think that Pluto, the Black Cat, was a metaphor for Poe's drinking problem it

shows us how someone can change for the worse due to drinking.He was obsessed with the cat being the beast but he turned into a beast himself...

But at the same time this could be not about alcoholism but instead it shows the way in which the narrator avoids taking responsibility for anything he does, instead blaming it on the alcohol and the cat.

For lazy readers, can listen or download an audiobook here.