Homo Bulla
quod, ut dicitur, si est homo bulla, eo magis senex
(for if, as they say, man is a bubble, all the more so is an old man)
Varro (116 BC – 27 BC), De Re Rustica
Homo bulla refers to a type of image that is intended to remind us that human life is as fleeting, iridescent, and lovely as a bubble. I encountered this art history theme years ago, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized that my own paintings had wandered right up next to this meaning.
Bubbles are not intended or necessary to seeing any of these circle paintings I make. But, they are another interesting way to look at some of the more figurative paintings. Here I have collected a few of these.
The Wanderer, 1st State
This image was the starting point for the “Wanderer” suite. I wanted to print over a reflective surface, so I started drawing on a piece of gold metallic matboard that I … “The Wanderer, 1st State”
