Sunday, March 22, 2015

Jimmy Durante's Nose

If you grew up in the 1960's or earlier, you will probably remember a singer-actor-comedian by the name of Jimmy Durante. Even if you can't recall a movie that he was in, chances are you will remember that his most prominent feature was his nose. One could argue that Durante built his career around it.

When I found this stone, I thought of him. Anyone who has ever drawn a cartoon knows that one of its common drawing techniques is that of caricature where the artist exaggerates a person's features. Judging by the look of this particular stone, it's an impulse that dates back to an era much earlier than our own.


And from this direction, it looks a bit like a buffalo.





















There also appears to be a big "X" marked on it.





















And here's another view.



















 
 
But like Jimmy Durante's work, this particular piece of art is most memorable for its comic view of the human nose. Our ability to laugh at ourselves seems to be one trait that has endured the test of time.

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