Masterpieces of the World's Great Museums is a miscellanious collection without much plan or reason for being, and so is a good random walk through painting and sculpture. One thing I noticed over the weeks since I brought it home from the estate sale is how often the critical essays talk about works in pairs. There seem to be some pairings that are just natural for understanding, or maybe necessary for understanding, even. And, once the articles start pairing, it is natural to keep doing that, as one turns the pieces over in one's mind.
We often go at things assuming that the natural unit to be understood or appreciated or responded to is -- the single thing. But maybe that's known to be a mistake, for some things. Maybe paintings need to be in pairs, frogs in triplets, churches in quaternities. We need to listen to how people naturally discuss.
Posted by shea0017 at October 4, 2004 10:34 PMIn Star Wars I, The Phantom Menace, there is a line that I was reminded of when I read your post. Shortly after Darth Maul was killed, the wise old Jedi said, "The Sith always come in pairs. The Apprentice and the Master."
I think there is a special synergy between teacher and student. One wants to teach and one wants to learn, and there is a passing of knowledge both ways.
Being married, I know that I have experienced many of the benefits of being a pair. We mutually benefit and compliment each other.
John