Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Painting by Vuillard" by Thom Gunn juxtaposes the simplicity and muted tones of a Vuillard painting with the vibrant complexity of contemporary life. Through this comparison, Gunn explores themes of aging, perception, and the richness of everyday experiences.

The poem begins by describing the painting: "Two dumpy women with buns were drinking coffee / In a narrow kitchen—at least I think a kitchen." This tentative language reflects the ambiguity and subjectivity of art interpretation. The kitchen is "whitewashed, in spite of all the shade," suggesting a contrast between light and shadow, simplicity and depth. The women, described as "flat brown, they were as brown as coffee," embody a monochromatic simplicity that seems to meld with their surroundings.

The ambiguity continues with the speaker's uncertainty about the women's attire: "Wearing brown muslin? I really could not tell." This uncertainty emphasizes the painting's indistinct quality, where details blur into an overall impression. The speaker admires this simplicity: "How I loved this painting, they had grown so old / That everything had got less complicated." The use of "less complicated" hints at a serene acceptance of life's reduction, where "brown clothes and shade in a sunken whitewashed kitchen" symbolize a distilled essence of existence.

However, the poem shifts as the speaker reflects on their own experience of aging: "But it’s not like that for me: age is not simpler / Or less enjoyable, not dark, not whitewashed." This statement contrasts the painting's simplicity with the speaker's vivid reality. The scene shifts to the lively steps of the national gallery, populated by diverse and vibrant individuals: "The people sitting on the marble steps / Of the national gallery, people in the sunlight." The specificity of this setting highlights the difference between the muted painting and the colorful reality.

Gunn's detailed descriptions bring the scene to life: "A party of handsome children eating lunch / And drinking chocolate milk, and a young woman / Whose t-shirt bears the defiant word WHATEVER." This defiance, embodied in the t-shirt, contrasts sharply with the resigned simplicity of the painting. The presence of "wrinkled folk with visored hats and cameras" underscores the diversity and richness of the contemporary scene. These people are "vivid, they are not browned, not in the least," directly opposing the monochromatic simplicity of the Vuillard painting.

The poem concludes with a sensory metaphor: "But if they do not look like coffee they look / As pungent and startling as good strong coffee tastes, / Possibly mixed with chicory. And no cream." Here, Gunn uses the metaphor of coffee to encapsulate the vividness and complexity of life. The "pungent and startling" taste of strong coffee with chicory represents the rich, unfiltered experiences of the people he observes. The phrase "And no cream" signifies a lack of dilution, emphasizing the authenticity and intensity of these experiences.

In "Painting by Vuillard," Gunn masterfully contrasts the muted simplicity of a Vuillard painting with the vibrant complexity of modern life. Through detailed descriptions and sensory metaphors, he explores the nuances of aging and perception, ultimately celebrating the rich tapestry of contemporary existence. This poem invites readers to reflect on the ways in which art and reality intersect, and how each offers unique insights into the human condition.

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