May 19, 2019 • 40

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #46: Delicate

True strength is delicate.~Louise Berliawsky Nevelson

What does “delicate” look like?  This is the question Ann-Christine asks us this week for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #46.  Some of my choices may surprise you.

I think we’d all agree that delicate is often light and fragile.  This image of a little girl holding a butterfly in Meijer Gardens came to mind.

Butterfly Girl. Shot with a Fuji X-T2, Meijer Gardens, Michigan

Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many different ailments, but I have never heard of one who suffered from insomnia.~Joseph Wood Krutch

It’s also soft–like this cat I saw sleeping on a motorbike a few weeks ago near Santo Spirito.

Cat Nap. Santo Spirito, Florence.

But delicate can also be surprisingly strong and resilient.  A cat has 7 lives, after all.

The sharp thorn often produces delicate roses.~Ovid

Now, take a look at the next 3 images.  They are all sculptures of young women created by two master artists–Desidero da Settignano and his pupil Andrea del Verrocchio, who in turn taught Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael.  Somehow these two geniuses were able to convey a sense of delicate beauty even though they were sculpting in marble.  Amazing, isn’t it?

Desiderio da Settignano. Young Woman. From the Exhibit Verrocchio, Master of Leonardo, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence

Delicate Beauty

Andrea del Verrocchio, Young Woman. From the Exhibit Verrocchio, Master of Leonardo–Palazzo Strozzi, Florence

Andrea del Verrocchio, “Lady with Bouquet”  From the Exhibit–Verrocchio, Master of Leonardo, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence

Settignano and Verrocchio remind me that “delicate” is deceptive.  It is far from weak.  Often it masks true strength–both in nature and in us, the human family.

In closing, I’d like to invite you to join Ann-Christine, for this week’s intriguing and timely “Delicate” challenge.   And I’d like to thank you all for participating in our Lens-Artists Photo Challenges, which helps to sustain and grow our blogging community.  Your responses have been marvelous.  We love these wonderful glimpses into your world when you share your images with us!

Categories: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography

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40 replies »

  2. This is such a beautiful collection, Patti! Love that little girl with the butterfly – the whole picture is delicate. The sculptures are fantastic – all of them. And I agree about wanting to touch… Often that is forbidden though. My favorite is the cat nap, really. Love both composition and the strict colour range, structures from rough to smooth, and not least – the beauty of the cat.

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  6. Include me in the group that always wants to touch sculptures. 😊. I love the photo of the little girl with the butterfly and I really like the way you looked at delicate in conjunction with strength. Delicate doesn’t have to mean weak.

    janet is

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  8. Love this series, Patti. The little girl and the butterfly is lovely. These three sculptures were beautifully captured in photos. Thank you for sharing with us. 🙂

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  14. Let me tell you, you sure know how to confuse this Chinese mind. I had to look up my dictionary, both in English and in English-to-Chinese, to read the definition of this word. Ha ha.
    >> …“delicate” is deceptive. It is far from weak. Often it masks true strength–both in nature and in us, the human family.
    Learned something… thank you!
    Good night.

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    • Hi, Helene. You made me smile. English is tricky that way, isn’t it? All those “shades” of meaning are sometimes at odds with the “standard” definition. That’s the beauty of English and the maddening part too! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. 🙂

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