For years I wanted to paint a triptych, but I never had the time for it. Then in 2003 after my walk to Santiago de Compostella I decided it was a now or never question, and started with it. It took almost half a year to finish it, beginning with the middle part and after that the sides. This triptych is the result of a deep inner wish to have one for myself. Looking at the special form of a triptych I consider this the beauty of it; a triptych is playful, visually exciting, it can be closed by the hinged panels and an inspiring text can be painted on it.
By dividing the painting in three pieces, each part gets a life of its own, while they are really inextricably interconnected with each other. A triptych has a story to tell and a good triptych becomes a 'holistic story'. The original tradition of a triptych has its roots in the Christian theology and The Holy Trinity.
The main theme of my first triptych is the 'the farewell'. I wanted to stay consciously close to the tradition. The man in the arms of the woman, either son or lover, there will always be the moment of farewell. Even the pregnant woman on the right panel has already begun the so intensely difficult moment of parting. This triptych combines the universal themes of Man and Nature, Love, Happiness, Sorrow, and the spirituality of The Divine.
N.B. This triptych is in my own possession and is since September 2005 exhibited in the Karmelklooster (a beautiful Carmelite Monastery which serves nowadays as a spiritual and cultural meeting center) in Drachten (Netherlands)
(This Triptych is for sale on the free market, directly from the artist, Ellen de Groot) |
