baba-prague
this is the original statue
As I say, not so different from the original. But you may be able to see the second child on her right-hand side (it's a shame the upload is so small). Oh - and of course the old man. He is quite clear even at this size.
Also, you can see why the original context made us think about the idea of appealing for help (or of not asking for it) that is so central to this card.
I think I should add one more thing, which is that you do often see beggars around the Charles Bridge. They are usually old men here - not homeless youngsters but elderly tramps, often with a drink problem. The statue that we used for the Six of Pentacles is also taken from an area that tends to have beggars (we were actually followed by a beggar the whole time we were photographing the woman for the Six). So you may well see either of these statues with actual beggars in front of them. It brings things home and makes them "real" somehow. Like everyone, I have mixed feelings towards begging on the street (I feel much happier giving to charities like Oxfam where I know the money will be well spent). There are real issues around charity and how we feel about it - if we think the other person is "worthy" or - if we are the ones in need of charity - if we think it is demeaning to ask. I love Rachel Pollack's discussion in "78 Degrees" of these issues around giving and receiving charity and we wanted some of the tension and questioning and - let's face it - the sheer upset of seeing another person in distress - to be communicated.
The lack of colour is deliberate of course, but it does make this card very gloomy when compared to the others. Sometimes I have wondered if it's too forbidding for readings. But it has a certain harsh beauty too - like the statue itself.
Oh dear - better stop there!
By the way, I am away from 23rd and won't have much email access, so I may go very quiet over Christmas - perhaps a good thing!
As I say, not so different from the original. But you may be able to see the second child on her right-hand side (it's a shame the upload is so small). Oh - and of course the old man. He is quite clear even at this size.
Also, you can see why the original context made us think about the idea of appealing for help (or of not asking for it) that is so central to this card.
I think I should add one more thing, which is that you do often see beggars around the Charles Bridge. They are usually old men here - not homeless youngsters but elderly tramps, often with a drink problem. The statue that we used for the Six of Pentacles is also taken from an area that tends to have beggars (we were actually followed by a beggar the whole time we were photographing the woman for the Six). So you may well see either of these statues with actual beggars in front of them. It brings things home and makes them "real" somehow. Like everyone, I have mixed feelings towards begging on the street (I feel much happier giving to charities like Oxfam where I know the money will be well spent). There are real issues around charity and how we feel about it - if we think the other person is "worthy" or - if we are the ones in need of charity - if we think it is demeaning to ask. I love Rachel Pollack's discussion in "78 Degrees" of these issues around giving and receiving charity and we wanted some of the tension and questioning and - let's face it - the sheer upset of seeing another person in distress - to be communicated.
The lack of colour is deliberate of course, but it does make this card very gloomy when compared to the others. Sometimes I have wondered if it's too forbidding for readings. But it has a certain harsh beauty too - like the statue itself.
Oh dear - better stop there!
By the way, I am away from 23rd and won't have much email access, so I may go very quiet over Christmas - perhaps a good thing!