On Re-Reading, "Beyond the Brillo Box," in a Slightly Odd Mood
Arthur Danto,
no infanto himself,
when it comes to
eyeing,
possibly misses one thing
when considering
a painting
by Mark Tansey
in which a cow,
exposed to Paulus Potter's, "The Young Bull"
is asked to provide some reflections on that image.
He rightly notes how
scientists stand by,
one with a mop,
none with a shovel,
watching.
And leads us into the farcical sit., which is this:
we gaze at the scientists who are gazing at the cow, which is gazing at
the bull, which in turn is gazing back at the cow.
In the second image there's a second bovine,
which looks frankly back at us,
two layers of paint away.
Arthur Danto,
really quite the gianto,
when it comes to
seeing
everything
omits or misses,
when discussing Ruskin
and the "true power of re-presence"
(which is "beyond human attainment"),
how like bovines academics themselves can be--
reflective beasts, knowing every inch of their fields,
chewing the cud many times over,
some knowing nothing of life beyond the paling frame,
neither seeing nor caring where watchers stand,
gaping, close to hand,
me or you,
peering in at the zoo.
David Ritchie,
Portland, Oregon
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