Laurent BeaudoinHôtel de région, Strasbourg, 1999.
Photo : Laurent Beaudoin

Being Brief

Faint and under glass, the etching shows skaters gracefully soaring on the ice, scarves fluttering, no doubt happy to be gliding in the fresh air. Below, these words are written in even fainter ink: “Glide, mortals, but tread not heavily.”

A lesson in lightness, or civility, a hint of an old way of life (as suggested by the faintness of the etching and ink). Still, the child thought, you need a long scarf, skates, and gloves.

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