Kate Bush: another art reference

[IEDSRI@aol.com]

A typically veiled reference of influence by Kate Bush:

In /XU,  "Moments of Pleasure" features a deceptively simple section showing
Kate's character lighting a candle while singing as though to herself.  Her
face is lit almost entirely by the candle's flame.  During a later part of
this segment she picks up a black bird (itself a symbol in Kate Bush's work
since 1978 or earlier, as you all know) from a book, where it has landed,
dead from colliding with a closed window.  On one
open page of the book is an image.

IED has identified this image as a color reproduction of a famous oil
painting, "Joseph the Carpenter" (c. 1645, 129.9 x
101 cm., Musee du Louvre, Paris) by the French Baroque artist
Georges de la Tour (1593-1652).  Why is it here?  Those familiar with la
Tour's style will immediately recall intimate interior scenes of figures
revealed by the soft, warm light of a candle.  "Joseph the Carpenter" is a la
Tour icon in this respect.  Kate Bush was acknowledging the artist's direct
influence in this scene.  Typically, however, this reference is extremely
well hidden.  Yet further proof of the importance of details in Kate Bush's
aesthetic. 

-- Andrew Marvick (IED) (SRI)