Poppy Seedpods
by Kathy Bassett
Title
Poppy Seedpods
Artist
Kathy Bassett
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A focus on the last bits of an active bed of poppies.
Poppies have long been used as a symbol of sleep, peace, and death: sleep because of the opium extracted from them, and death because of the common blood-red color of the red poppy in particular. In Greek and Roman myths, poppies were used as offerings to the dead. Poppies used as emblems on tombstones symbolize eternal sleep. This symbolism was evoked in the children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in which a magical poppy field threatened to make the protagonists sleep forever.
A second interpretation of poppies in Classical mythology is that the bright scarlet colour signifies a promise of resurrection after death.
The poppy of wartime remembrance is Papaver rhoeas, the red-flowered corn poppy. This poppy is a common weed in Europe and is found in many locations, including Flanders, the setting of the famous poem "In Flanders Fields," by the Canadian surgeon and soldier John McCrae. In Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, artificial poppies (plastic in Canada, paper in the UK, Australia, South Africa, Malta and New Zealand) are worn to commemorate those who died in war. This form of commemoration is associated with Remembrance Day, which falls on November 11. In Canada, Australia and the UK, poppies are often worn from the beginning of November through to the 11th, or Remembrance Sunday if that falls on a later date (November 13 in 2011). In New Zealand and Australia, soldiers are commemorated on ANZAC day (April 25), although the poppy is still commonly worn around Remembrance Day. Wearing of poppies has been a custom since 1924 in the United States. Miss Moina Michael of Georgia is credited as the founder of the Memorial Poppy in the United States.
Uploaded
September 3rd, 2012
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Comments (32)
Gary F Richards
Spectacular summer floral composition, lighting, shading, vivid colors and artwork! F/L voted
Gary F Richards
Spectacular floral composition, lighting, shading, beautiful colors and artwork! F/L voted
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Sue Jenkins
Kathy this is great I always think the seed pods of poppies are as interesting as the flower. You have caught the Poppie in two stages... blooming and at seed Lovely. Voted for the Art Shoppe Cafe- Weekly Topic- Flowers