Irena at the Plough Painting

Manet's Bar at the Folles-Bergere is an alphabet of riddles both visual and narrative. I have attempted to capture some of this enigma in this painting even to finding the lone French Bar Maid. It is a love story. I have been working on this painting for 14 years; beginning in Canada completing it this year. (probably thinking about it for much longer). Irena Kryzinska, the model and I have known each other for years, we first met at the John Cockle Pub on Sutton Road Mansfield; she was 18 and I 22. Irena went to Manchester University English & French. Irena served at my first marriage. Our daughters were friends, her brother worked with my mother at Carlsboro Sound. Des Field says this is also true of Shaun’s ‘The Plough.’ Here we have homage to Manet’s barmaid and again he has played with elements of the picture to give the viewer something new and fresh to contemplate. We see Shaun’s love of Ireland in the Guinness and shamrock references. Is the white horse in the background a reference to his love of them in his youth? He has either bravely or cheekily placed his own reflection in the mirror. In the original a man to the right of the picture is said to be Jack the Ripper. Is the painter trying to tell us something more sinister? In the original the barmaid appears to be staring off into the middle distance. Here, Shaun has provided her with a focus. Is she bored or tired? Jealous? Amused? Excited? Again, it is up to the spectator to interpret what is going on in this painting. As we know, interpreting the Mona Lisa’s smile will continue ad infinitum. Perhaps this is what elevates what would normally be commonplace art to something more intrinsic. So here are two of Shaun’s works that invite the viewer to ‘see more’ in the picture. If this is one of his strengths as a painter, then I am sure you will join me in looking forward to more of his work. Des Field BA in Theatre Studies & BA Dip. Ed. Author. NSW