Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Picking potatoes / A apanha da batata


This is the most flowery time of the year, something particularly noticeable in these small farms where flowers mingle happily with vegetables, orchards, vines, stacks and everything else in an apparent and lovely chaos that is a true private world. In this time when the days are long and bright, backs must be bent to pick the potatoes from the land, a tiring task especially if the sun presses, but that will be compensated with something that is not found in "industrial" potatoes: Flavor.
Esta é das mais floridas alturas do ano, o que é particularmente notório nestas quintinhas onde flores se misturam alegremente com hortas, pomares, vinhas, estacas e tudo o mais numa aparente e adorável desordem que é um verdadeiro mundo privado. Nesta altura em que os dias são longos e luminosos, haverá que dobrar as costas para tirar as batatas da terra, tarefa cansativa sobretudo se o sol aperta, mas que será compensada com algo que não se encontra nas batatas "industriais": Sabor.
Fabriano cold-pressed 5"x7" - 140lb (12,5x18 cm - 300g/m2) paper
Sold / Vendido

8 comments:

GlorV1 said...

Hard working man and again taking the shoes off for the feel of earth on bare feet. I like the way she is looking on as if thinking of how she will be cooking the potatoes tonight. I love it Paulo. We grew little red potatoes this year and we had a nice little crop. So next year they'll go in again along with white potatoes. There is nothing like growing your own veggies and your painting tells it all. Thanks for sharing. Have a great Wednesday.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Thanks, Gloria: You're so fortunate for having a piece of land to grow your veggies...
This was inspired by a good friend that still grows his own ones despite his almost 84 years of age. Every week he comes in with something for us, maybe fruit, potatoes, whatever is available that time of the year, sometimes even fresh eggs... All full of flavor. I'm always amazed on how much he can work every day and don't have the least doubt that he is ten times stronger and healthier than me...

Julio Rodrigues said...

Na minha infancia fiquei bastante familiarizado com esta actividade.
Esta aguarela e' uma absoluta beleza.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Obrigado, Villager. Tenho que confessar que até ao momento a minha familiaridade tem sido mais como observador, mas um dia isso mudará :)

RobCarey said...

Wonderful composition to this one, Paulo. I like how you brought the person in closer as part of the composition here.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Thank you, Rob: These old people and their love and care for the land are becoming a favorite subject.

Terry Banderas said...

Beautifully done, Paulo.

Paulo J. Mendes said...

Thanks so much, Terry :)