The Old Days

The Old Days

Don Moy (American, born 1937)

1981

ink on paper

image: 12 7/16 in x 8 3/8 in; sheet: 24 1/8 in x 16 3/4 in

inscription: Cut and mat as desired. Portland Art Museum · Oregon · ATTN: Mr. Gilkey / Moy, graphite, bottom left

inscription: The Old Days · Written out in memory of Lloyd J. Reynolds., graphite, lower middle

monogram: LJR, brushed, center right below image of eagle

maker's mark; date: JM // '81, graphite, center right [to the right of "IDIOTS!"]

text transcription: Penmanship was then taught, // not mechanically and ineffectively, // by unsound and shifting formulae, // but by passionate penmen with curly // patent·leather hair and far·away // eyes · - in brief, by the unforgettable // professors of our youth with their // flourishes, their heavy down·strokes and // their lovely birds·with·letters·in·their·bills. // You remember them, of course. // ASSES ALL! // PREPOSTEROUS POPINJAYS AND // NUMSKULLS! PATHETIC IDIOTS! // But they loved penmanship, they believed in the glory and beauty of // penmanship, they were fanatics, devotees, almost martyrs of pen-// manship·- and so they got some touch of that passion into their pupils. // Not enough to make sound penmen. Look at your old writing·book: // observe the excellent legibility, the clear strokes of your Time is money. // Then look at your child's. / H.L. MENCKEN, brushed, center

Gift of Don Moy

81.85

© artist or other rights holder

calligraphy

calligraphy

eagles

ink

paper