Franz von Lenbach, German
Portrait of the Robertsons, That Creepy Family That Never Blinks, 1903
Oil on cardboard
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THROWBACK THURSDAY: MASTERPIECE #2257 (8/5/19)
The fact that the actual title is "Portrait Of Himself, His Wife Lolo And His Daughters Marion And Gabriele" only makes it worse, though…
Info, or perhaps links that point to more info, about this artist can be found here, here (archived if necessary), here, here, here, here, here, here (can be read in full for free on Fridays), here (archived if necessary), here, here, here, here, here (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser can automatically translate, if necessary), and here, perhaps in addition to what’s in his Wikipedia page (Google translated German Wikipedia page has more).
/// Franz’s Family von Lenbach presents
a weird study in creepy suspense.
From their stares I’d have guessed
that all four are possessed;
the miasma of evil’s intense.
/// Both the blonde and the darker haired daughter
appear capable of wholesale slaughter.
Charlotte (Lolo), his wife, might end innocent life
by applying skills both children taught her.
/// Their blonde daughter resents people staring
at the red and white outfit she’s wearing.
In her basement, stripped bare,
you’ll find Santa chained there.
The girl’s chutzpah is actually daring.
/// Are there signs here we can’t understand?
For a six-six-six birthmark I’ve scanned.
Are they demons on earth?
His wife, (for what it’s worth),
has six fingers upon her right hand.
/// Those who cherish good posture resent
the example these parents present.
But two terms they both hate
are “upstanding” and “straight.”
Face it, some people like being bent.
/// There are certain skilled artists of whom
we can say you portray gloom and doom.
Not just eyes (which bore holes),
but these guys’ evil souls
seem to follow you all ‘round the room.
/// Many people, when angry, will glower,
but their eyes have a sinister power
to send chills up your spine
and expel the divine,
all the better your soul to devour.
/// Lenbach’s paintings, prized in World War II,
had been looted, (if owned by a Jew).
Goebbels, not known for thrift,
gave an oil as a gift
to Der Fürer, (Adolph You-Know-Who).
/// The painter’s wife says, “Call me Ms.”
And the youngster is taking a whizz.
“Golden Child” has been placed
right up front, where she’s graced.
It is clear who his favored one is.