3/29/2025 Painting of the day: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Engraved by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794-1872), Published Leipzig, by Georg Wigands, 1852-1860, This plate conceived in 1854, Die Bibel in Bildern, Plate 200, Cologne, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud
Schnorr is quite unique an artist of his time. A Lutheran belonging to the Nazerene Movement: a group of early 19th-century German and Austrian artists who sought to revive the purity, spirituality, and craftsmanship of early Renaissance and late medieval art, particularly inspired by figures like Fra Angelico and Raphael
3/28/2025 Painting of the day: The Boating Party, Painted by Mary Cassatt (1844–1926), Painted in 1894, Oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Fr. Patrick van der Vorst: Mary Cassatt was an American painter, born in Pennsylvania, who spent much of her adult life in France, where she became close friends with Edgar Degas. As one of the few prominent female Impressionists, she exhibited alongside the movement’s leading figures. Her work primarily depicted the social and private lives of women, often highlighting the deep, intimate bonds between mothers and their children.
Vorst reflects this maternal love on God's love for us as we practice loving God in return, based on Mark 12:28b-34 ...You must love the Lord your God with all your heart.
3/27/2025 Painting of the day: Room in Brooklyn, Painted by Edward Hopper (1882-1967), Painted in 1932, Oil on canvas
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Van der Vorst's interpretation: Edward Hopper, influenced by French Impressionism, was a master at capturing solitude and introspection in his art. His paintings often depict lone figures immersed in quiet contemplation, bathed in the soft light of a window or lost in thought amid an empty room. While his works are sometimes associated with isolation and loneliness, they also evoke a sense of profound stillness, one that invites the viewer to reflect. In many ways, his art resonates with our Lenten journey. I recently read an article that remarked, in light of Covid, “we are all Edward Hopper paintings now.” However, there is a distinction between the loneliness often ascribed to Hopper’s work and the sacred solitude we seek in faith. As Christians, we intentionally carve out moments of quietness: not to be alone in despair, but to step away from the noise of life, to find God.
Phil asked me to play this in church before. I didn't and still don't think it's apt for church worship services. But it's a nice piece to learn and play, perhaps I shall duet myself and record this on youtube, starting from Timothy Chooi's interpretation, besides the other masters on Massenet's Thais:
3/26/2025 Learning Figma, a UX writer's guide.
Art of the day: The Winged Victory of Samothrace, Executed circa 200–190 BC, Sculpted Parian marble, Louvre Museum, Paris
I have certainly seen this piece at my time in the Louvre. Though it was too crowded for me to fully learn and appreciate it until now, with this art of the day email newsletter. It was originally meant to be placed in a fountain but became a symbol of naval victory on a ship's prow. Discovered in 1863 on Samothrace island. Head and limbs are missing, but its flowing garments still shows its gallant billowing through the wind.
Interesting that Fr. Patrick van der Vorst, the host of Christian.art, also noted the importance of timeless pieces especially of the classics rather than the temporal fad of many modern arts.
3/25/2025 Interesting secret for landing the software developer engineering job with the right resume building. I've loaded to the Amazon Photos cloud as well as my media drive in case this is censored online. Interesting notes:
What matters:
Prestigious schools, i.e. MIT (I guess I can just take a couple of courses from MIT-online), Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, etc.
GPA
4-10 years experience in the field.
Expertise in JS, LLMs, etc.
Longevity in previous roles. 2 years+
Startups matter
Diversity matters (i.e. female, black, etc.)
Citizen, Green Card
Founder experience is bonus
What are red flags:
Sub-contracted candidates
Visa seekers
Boot camps graduates
IT consulting backgrounds, instead of actual product companies
Big companies experience only (i.e. Intel, Google, Uber, HP, Dell, Cisco, etc.)
Fake profiles
Painting of the day: The Annunciation with St Emidius,
Painted by Carlo Crivelli (1430-1495), Painted in 1486, Oil on canvas,
National Gallery, London
At first glance, I would not have cared too much for this medieval art, but with Patrick van der Vorst's guide, there's much to appreciate about this Italian (Carlo Crivelli)'s work. I was in London and I certainly have missed this piece of artwork. The annunciation is the proclamation of the incarnation to Mary and the Catholics love arts surrounding this theme. This piece involved St. Emidius holding a model of the town (Ascoli Piceno) he was "patron saint" of, seemingly kneeling next to the Angel Gabriel. Mary has a ray of light descending from the Holy Spirit in the painting. In the foreground, apple signifies the forbidden fruit of Eden, a reminder of sin; the cucumber, to the left of the apple, represents resurrection and redemption, a medieval theme of the vegetable as cucumbers regenerate year after year and the fruit last freshly for a long time. The peacock above Mary's ceiling is an association with immortality, as the ancient believes that its flesh never decay. The background bridge shows two man, one reading a message handed to him by another, the message was delivered by carrier pigeon with its cage to the right, the imagery is a metaphor for the Annunciation itself. Everyone else is minding their own business, oblivious to the kairos, except for a small young girl, curiously peering from the left corner of what is really going on.
3/24/2025 AI that color matches pictures from other pictures to share the same color theme.
Painting of the day, The Prodigal Son in Modern Life: The Return, Etching by James Tissot (1836-1902). Published in 1882, Etching laid paper; second state of two
Metropolitan Museum, New York(first of 3 pieces?) ? National Gallery of Art, DC ? Princeton University Art Museum
Departure:
Above first piece, No. III, The Return: Modernize biblical parable set to harbor scene by Realist painter Tissot, who love maritime arts. Observe the pigs in the background as well as the woman watching in awe/shock on the right.
The same artist has another piece in the Brooklyn Museum, set to the biblical time, The Return of the Prodigal Son (Le retour de l'enfant prodigue):
3/23/2025 The Romans Doxology is the doxology version we use at church sometimes, alternating between the classical version from the hymn book. At first finding, I found this youtube version to be more rich in chords for the moment, perhaps I'll also arrange one: