My Truth

Here is a Truth that Mr. Freeman sold to me in February of this year.

Truth - Feb 2009

Reprise

I am reposting the video The Art of Herbert Freeman.  I am grateful to the students who made this short documentary and their recognition of Mr Freeman’s worth and dignity. I am also posting some captured frames from the video.

They Flash Upon That Inward Eye Which is the Bliss of Solitude

One of Mr. Freeman’s signature motifs is the contemplative pose.  This one is different in that it is a profile view instead of full face.

Bliss

Penelope

I doubt if Mr. Freeman is very familiar with Homer’s Odyssey.  However, when he described his concept of this picture I could not help but think of Penelope and her suitors.

According to Mr. Freeman this is a depiction of a woman so attractive that men surround her and attach themselves to her.  She, on the other hand, remains aloof to their advances.

Woman With Suitors

Saw It In a Vision

Here is Mr. Freeman’s Vision iconography repeated on a piece of corrugated cardboard.

Corrugated Vision

It Takes Two

Mr. Freeman usually depicts single individuals.  Earlier in his career he would create artwork composed of  trinities representing families.  Couples are rare and in this case rather special.

Couple

El Circo

This is another example of the “wild hair” imagery  Mr. Freeman sometimes employs in his pictures.  I like the theatric or circus-like quality of this picture. This is a detail photo.  I do not have a picture of the whole piece.

The Actor

Ophelia

Mr. Freeman has created many pictures where the subject has wild Medusa-like hair.  This is one of my favorites.  It reminds me of  John Everett Millais‘   Ophelia. 

Floating

Ophelia (1852) - John Everett Millais

 

 

Lady in Red

I suppose there could be entire papers written about why Mr. Freeman, a homeless man, chooses to portray the nobility in most of his portraits.

Lady in Red

Pen and Ink

One of the many unfortunate circumstances of being homeless is that you have a higher probability of winding up in jail than most people.  The piece below was drawn by Mr. Freeman while in jail.