Saturday, January 26, 2008

Illustration Friday - Tales and Legends


Lizzy Borden took an ax
And gave her Mother 40 whacks
When she saw what she had done
She gave her Father 41
Poor Lizzy - infamous New England crazy woman.
Lizzie Andrew Borden[1] (July 19, 1860June 1, 1927) was a New England spinster who was the central figure in the hatchet murders of her father and stepmother on August 4, 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts, in the United States. The slayings, subsequent trial, and the following trial by media became a cause célèbre, and the fame of the incident has endured in American pop culture and criminology. Although Lizzie Borden was acquitted, no one else was ever arrested or tried, and she has remained notorious in American folklore. Dispute over the identity of the killer or killers continues to this

This illustration is not taken from an actual picture of Lizzy, but was an experiment with a cabinet card photograph. But when it was done it reminded me of Lizzy somehow. I've always pictured Lizzy as a meek, mild obedient daughter who one day just had enough and went over the top. New England winters, stern parents and being known as the local spinster would probably do that to anyone.
I just realized that I've used Lizzy before for Illustration Friday and I apologise...and will hasten upstairs to do something else for Tales and Legends. Meanwhile, enjoy Lizzie - I've always liked her.

12 comments:

Rui Sousa said...

Great work, really nice!

Teri said...

Now THERE is a legend!! Great!

Debra Kay said...

Poor Lizzie! I've often wondered what it must have been like if she didn't do it-but everyone continued to think she did. Or what if she had an accomplice-a secret lover *gasp* maybe another woman....Or maybe she was just "having a really bad day." (my favorite line from Crimes of the Heart).

I totally believed the picture was LB until you said otherwise-you've done a good job of capturing a woman trapped in the "trappings of society"...

NANCY LEFKO said...

very nice piece and perfect for the topic !!

steve said...

Great work on this experiment here Mim!

Roberta said...

That's quite a tale! Great post.

Digital Scott's Illustrationblog said...

Nice collage! I remember that poem!

Kerstin Klein said...

that poem sounds exactly like edward gorey. did you write it?

claudine hellmuth said...

oh yes! lizzie borden!!! this is great!

emilayusof said...

Great work, Auntie Mim!

Cheryl said...

This is quirky and fun...I mean besides the morbid part. Love collage.

Sarah said...

She lives on in the UK too - I read some speculation that she was abused, and one day the tension/anger just exploded - but who can really know. great idea anyway!