Two Great Painters

"Two Great Painters" by James Baldwin is an essay that reflects on the lives and works of two influential artists, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Baldwin explores their artistic philosophies and styles, delving into how their experiences and cultural backgrounds shaped their creative expressions. The essay serves as a meditation on art, individuality, and the complexities of the human experience, highlighting Baldwin's deep appreciation for the emotional and aesthetic power of painting. Through his insightful analysis, Baldwin invites readers to consider the broader implications of art in society and its capacity to transcend time and cultural boundaries.

• Short story

								
There was once a painter whose name was Zeuxis. [Footnote: Zeuxis
(pro. zuke'sis).] He could paint pictures so life-like that they were
mistaken for the real things which they represented.

At one time he painted the picture of some fruit which was so real
that the birds flew down and pecked at it. This made him very proud
of his skill.

"I am the only man in the world who can paint a picture so true to
life," he said.

There was another famous artist whose name was Parrhasius. [Footnote:
Parrhasius (pro. pa ra'shl us).] When he heard of the boast which
Zeuxis had made, he said to himself, "I will see what I can do."

So he painted a beautiful picture which seemed to be covered with a
curtain. Then he invited Zeuxis to come and see it.

Zeuxis looked at it closely. "Draw the curtain aside and show us the
picture," he said.

Parrhasius laughed and answered, "The curtain is the picture."

"Well," said Zeuxis, "you have beaten me this time, and I shall boast
no more. I deceived only the birds, but you have deceived me, a
painter."

Some time after this, Zeuxis painted another wonderful picture. It was
that of a boy carrying a basket of ripe red cherries. When he hung
this painting outside of his door, some birds flew down and tried to
carry the cherries away.

"Ah! this picture is a failure," he said. "For if the boy had been as
well painted as the cherries, the birds would have been afraid to come
near him."
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