Attempt to Reverse the Dumbing Down

Dan White said:
Well, if you go to the link I provided with the audio clip, they basically say they have no clue what the hell this painting is supposed to mean.
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The narrator didn't have a clue, period. "La Fortune" doesn't mean "luck." It means "wealth." Luck or the luck is la chance (as in Bonne Chance for Good Luck).

The piece is surrealism, and more than likely just a piece in his head. Man Ray was American and enjoyed American Pool. The clouds, as others have said, represent the object balls. The fact that he's in France suggests he sees billiard tables exclusive and not pocketed billiard tables.

We can further invent all kinds of reasons for the upward reaching table, the pool theme in the clouds, and the title meaning, "the wealth." The Art History teachers usually add pauses and hooking inflections in the description. All would be correct.

Freddie <~~~ BTDT
 
hang-the-9 said:
Shouldn't all 3 balls be different colors or is there a carom game that has two of the same ball?.
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I believe historically, both white balls for billiards were indeed the same color. To differentiate, one cue ball had a dot. I'm sure someone will tell us that both had dots or neither had a dot at one point. I'm not that someone.

Today, the second white is often an off-white or yellow color (colour).

Freddie <~~~ can't make a ball on a billiard table
 
Still trying to figure out why the table is at an angle and the balls haven't rolled to the short rail.

Must have used Duct Tape.

But I do like Clouds tho. Had these over the house a while ago.
 

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Sometimes art is more about the discussion the work generates (like this thread) than it is about the original piece.

That's my deep thought of the day...
 
Cornerman said:
The narrator didn't have a clue, period. "La Fortune" doesn't mean "luck." It means "wealth." Luck or the luck is la chance (as in Bonne Chance for Good Luck).
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I'm not so sure it is that cut and dried, Fred. I think la fortune can mean either wealth or luck, depending on the context, just like it can in english. "It was fortunate that he decided not to take the flight that crashed." or "He amassed a great fortune." It works the same way in French.

The only context for "La Fortune" is the painting. I would argue that billiards is a game of skill, not luck, but Man Ray may not have made such a distinction. The narrator said he often made games of chance subjects of his work, so that would suggest (even if incorrectly) that he meant "luck." On the other hand, billiards provided money and championships and all sorts of "fortune" of that sort, as well.

Or, to quote a contemporary, "There ain't no answer. There ain't gonna be any answer. There never has been an answer. That's the answer." Gertrude Stein.
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
Still trying to figure out why the table is at an angle and the balls haven't rolled to the short rail.

Must have used Duct Tape.

But I do like Clouds tho. Had these over the house a while ago.
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Wow, those are some crazy looking clouds! What does Art Bell think of them?
 
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