Nothing in this famous painting is what it seems.
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A short video essay about the photo Grace by Eric Enstrom
Like the mic? Check out Earthworks ETHOS: earthworksaudio.com/ - Zábava
"You've probably seen this image before."
Never in my life, Austin, but thanks for the story and food for thought!
Right??😂
I'm American and nearly 50 and I've never seen this image before.
It must be a regional/religious thing., I've spent my entire life on the West coast and I've never seen it either.
It's weird I saw it in three different rural thrift stores last week states apart while on a road trip
I grew up on the East coast and I have never seen it before in my life, at least not that I can remember.
As someone who is not from the US I had never seen that "painting" before and had no interest on it, yet Austin's storytelling ability managed to keep me glued to my screen for the whole video.
IKR, the backstory was very fascinating
I've lived in the bible belt of the US and I've never seen this picture. I'm sure I'll notice it everywhere now.
I'm in the U.K. so, ditto, I've never seen it either. Great history though.
I grew up in a southern US small town and I have never seen that picture before either
As a fellow "foreigner", I got an extra layer of enjoyment learning about the ubiquity of the image within some US communities!
Plus, I grew up where every house I went into had prints of my uncle's artwork on the walls, so I know what it's like to see the same images everywhere!
"...knowing the saintly old man was just a town drunk..." This adds to the meaning of the picture for me. In the Christian tradition "Grace" isn't just another word for prayer. It's the compassion of God to those of us who don't deserve it. So now the pictures speaks to me not just of gratitude, but of the wonder of God's undeserved love to someone like Wilden ...someone like me.
Beautifully said, and true! That's why we sing songs about how amazing the grace of God is, that he would give his only Son to restore our relationship with him. What a King!
Amen.
None of us deserve Gods grace.
I feel the same! God gives His Grace to all!!
As the great grand daughter of Eric Enstrom and granddaughter of Rhoda Nyberg who colored the images, this is one of the best storytellings of the history of Grace! Much appreciated (also thank you for including a snippet of our fams website!)
I think it’s quite nice that they tracked down the subject of the photo as well! Unless copyright was different 100 years ago, the subject of a photograph, whether paid or not, does not have any copyrights under current us law. Which is why some celebrities have been sued by posting photos of themselves to social media, and been found liable. Such a great story! Does you family still have the original?
Do you happen to have any information on the female counterpart to this photo? There's one that is very similar, but is an older woman instead of this gentleman.
Oh? So one of your relatives is a teacher
Eric Enstom was my grandma’s uncle. I meet him in 1967, I believe he passed shortly after that. Anyway I have Uncle Eric’s picture, he gave mom several copies when we we there.
The fact that the man in the photo was a town drunk makes Brian's comment about him supposedly being his ancestor even funnier
Why?
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
@@garyfrancis6193 Think about it 🙂.
My great-grandmother owns a copy, and it seems to mean a lot to her. She’s a wonderful lady. I actually did think when I was younger that it depicted her late husband. The strange thing, though, is that she also owns a similar copy with a woman in it that looks much like her … I am now very confused.
Edit: okay, so turns out a second photograph _was_ created to go along with the original one, this time featuring a woman, in the hopes of bringing in more sales to both. Looks like it succeeded. The one with the man is called “Grace”, and the one with the woman is called “Gratitude”.
The only reasonable explanation is that your great grandmother had photoshop before anybody else
Maybe they bought them because the pictures reminded them of themselves?
My mom has both grace and gratitude hanging on her wall.
Grace by Eric Enstrom; Gratitude by Jack Garren
Very cool 😎. Love your work on the FNAF vids
I am 70. I have seen the picture in a lot of different places. It doesn't matter who the old man was or who started the spread of it or even how much money they made. Like all art, it means something different to almost everyone. To me, it is a reminder to be grateful and to remember those times when my young family was very needy and prayer got us through. Thank you for bringing this picture back to the foreground
there is another with a woman i suppose a pair thats been separated down the years
It does matter--the photographer KNEW it was a big seller, gave the old man who made it all possible, $5. That's a shite thing to do.
@@TheCrabbyCrafterlol $5 in those days could buy a whole lot more than today.
@@Exodus20.7KJV True, but he gave a one-time, tiny payment on what he had already had grand success with. it should have been a percentage or a "decent" amount that would have been fair to both parties instead of taking full advantage of the old man's circumstances, the man without whom the photographer would likely not have had such a successful pic.
@@TheCrabbyCrafterlol he will answer to God for that, as we each must do some day. It is still a lovely picture of hope and gratitude God has used to reach those who will be reached.
My middle school art teacher was the granddaughter of the photographer, she told us all about this image. Nice to see a deeper dive into its interesting background
How cool! I would’ve loved to learn that in school. What a cool connection to history.
great to hear that art still ran in the family.
@@FredK55 I supect the model didn't want help beyond cash. Models in art are usually paid very little, if anything. I am guessing that the photographer would have been well within his legal rights to not pay the gentleman anything more than what he paid him the day he took the picture. In today's money, the gentleman made just under $100 for those 5 minutes. The photographer (the artist) did all the work after that, not to mention paying for equipment and materials.
@@kathyjohnson2043 You’re probably right, other sources say the model was an itinerant salesman.
Yes I agree 👏👏👏
Never seen this piece before (probably because I live in Germany). The first thing I saw, was an old man in resignation. For me it seemed quite melancholic. The real story about the picture possibly explains why.
Also never seen this painting in my life (America) and my grandparents used to hang plates on their walls.
Hello fellow German! 🖐🏻
Never saw the picture before either, but the story was very interesting.
I said the same thing, that he looks exhausted and frustrated/defeated.
That's the air I got from it too. If there was any religious connotations to it it would be similar to what filmmaker Ingmar Bergman called the "silence of God."
I think it's meant to depict a haggard and tired old man who turns to God as a source of strength and nourishment in a life in which he has very little. If you notice the food is sparse and simple, and there isn't much else depicted besides the spartan table setting in the photo. I'm sure the photographer didn't have time to overthink it too much, considering it was hastily put together.
This photo / painting hung in my grandparents' dining room for 40 years. It was part of every visit and every holiday meal. My grandparents were amateur photographers, and my great-grandfather looked very much like this man, so I put two and two together (and got five, obviously).
Thanks for sharing this fascinating story! Your bigger question about art's purpose and its source is excellent.
Thanks for taking the time to watch, Gene! Hope you're doing well.
For some Reason I was reading "my Grand-Aunt was looking like this Man"
Would have been a bit embarasing for the Aunt...
That's funny because it's hanging up in my grandparents dining room and all of my cousins used to call it the picture of grandpa when we were kids.
In mine now, my sisters and my best friends. Sometimes old town drunks need to pray the most.
As a young bride in the early 70s, this was a wedding present. It hung on my wall for many years. It inspired me to write a song about it.
Please share us the song
Lol; is it “Amazing Grace?”
And.......share it...please.
@@craignelson3965 lol; it’s called “Soup when I want Steak”
I’d love to hear it sometime! I bet it’s wonderful!
This painting\photograph is so nostalgic. It hung in my grandparents' kitchen when I was little. It's like a hug seeing it. 😊 Hearing the history is interesting, but doesn't take away from the good memory of it.
yes like a hug!
Yeah it's next to the kitchen in my grandparents house too
*long tear-jerking story*
My grandfather always had this very same “painting” in his dining room, and a copy still hangs in the tiny dining room of the 4th generation farm house where he [grandfather] was born (the home is still in the family, and we often gather there for family events).
I never knew much about the painting, but Grandfather always looked up at it before each meal and would pray “Evening has come, the board (table) is spread. Praise be to God, who gives us bread. Praise God for bread!” , and then we’d eat. It was always a reminder to us to be thankful for what we have, no matter how little or how much.
I hadn’t thought much of this painting until I was on my way to work one day… I had stopped at a local thrift store to pick up an armchair for my wife that she’d paid for a few days prior. I always browse the thrift shops, and recently I’ve been looking for artwork for our home that we’ve been slowly renovating. Amazingly, I saw a copy of this painting (in a beautiful pine wood frame) stashed in their art section, and it brought back all of those old memories of Grandfather and his home in the mountains, reminding us to always be thankful and humble.
Needless to say, for the small amount of $5, that same painting now hangs in OUR dining room… and I suppose has become a family tradition and reminder. We have 5 children, and while they’re all still far too small to really know what it means, or the story behind it, it’s there: reminding me to be thankful and humble (no matter if it’s a mass-produced photograph or not!).
And it also reminds me of my grandfather, who was a minister for over 50 years, and has now been gone from us for 8 years now as of Christmas 2022. Miss you and love you Granddad, thanks for the lesson, it has definitely made me a better person (and my children will be better people as a result too). ❤🥲
GodBless you!
To much talk and A lot more Praying Needed here.
@@markwilliams5606 People in general, or are you telling the original post commenter they talk too much? Because that would not be very nice. They shared a wonderful story.
"In 1926, Enstrom tracked Wilden down and..."
"Gave him a greater payment based on the substantial sales?"
"lol oh bless your heart..."
Maybe give him some credit for housing or something? Sallow sentimentality still sells and there's little value placed on human authenticity, much more on collectable stamps and such.
That's still less than $100.
I know, right? Surprised more people aren't talking about how badly Mr. Wilden got ripped off here.
@@jaschabull2365 Enstrom apparently tried to find him after it really took off in popularity but wasn't able to. The man seems to have dropped off the grid in a way which isn't really possible today.
well come on now put it in context. Admittedly it was not that much. And simultaneously, getting five dollars in 1926 WAS a big payment. Adjusting for inflation it was almost a hundred dollars. And, rhe besides inflation adjustments, the dollar bought more, anyways. Like a few cents for a gallon of milk or a few cents for some beers, in 1926. But other than that yes, I would agree that the man probably deserved a royalty instead of just selling the rights. But hey if a person doesn’t understand the value of a thing, and is an addict, well then, I have little sympathy for his lack of business acumen.
This painting was on the dining room wall when I was a kid and still is. My mother has always had it as a reminder to be thankful. She is 97 and it was there when I visited her at Christmas. It will always be special to me no matter where it came from.
It's on my parents wall in the dining room. I love it. ❤️🙏🇨🇦
I have it hanging on my wall for many years!.
I know this art as “Daily Bread”. There is also a “matching” print of an elderly woman, pointing the opposite direction…they both evoke poignant memories, for me, personally. My parents gifted a framed pair to my grandparents and liked the images, so much, they also hung the art, in our dining room, a few years later. I enjoyed hearing the history/origin of how the art came about. I may try to find a copy of the black and white photograph, as it had been intended by the photographer, to be enjoyed, since hearing this. I’d like to think that, despite the subject’s life situation and his troubles, that he may have done this very thing, each day, that no one would ever know about…except himself and his Lord and Savior. He was obviously so comfortable “posing”, it may not be too far from reality. 🤷🏻♀️
As a child, I had always assumed it was a painting of my dad’s stepfather. Little did I know that my mom had received it from her her grandmother when she passed away-having no relation to my dad’s stepfather at all. The painting still hangs in my parents living room 20 years later.
It’s interesting that you never mentioned “Gratitude” the picture of the old woman praying that looks similar to “Grace.” I always saw the two pictures paired in older peoples houses growing up in the US
Was hoping that would be talked about.
Same. They were always hung across from eachother.
Yes in my house we had the two together.
I agree. I wonder what the story behind the woman image is!
Same
Just an FYI... we have a very old family Bible that if it were on that table, it would be larger over all, though perhaps not any thicker. The thing is gigantic. The hard cover itself is very thick, with a heavily embossed design. It is at my oldest brothers home now, and I am not sure of the number of pages... but I looked at it many times growing up and there are tones of pages with complex art work and all kinds of additional materials, such as a detailed index and a concordance. There are also brief commentaries introducing each book, and footnotes throughout.
I live in a town very near to the origins of this piece of art. The studio is still there and a billboard size version of this art is proudly displayed near the entrance of Bovey, Minnesota. Seems like everyone in this area knows this art and the story behind it.
Just like Buhl is known for its water, Bovey is known for Grace.
People love a good story, whether it's fictional or real.
That's why this painting got so popular, and why I'm happily subbed to your channel.
At 69 likes. Can't like it
The value of art is what it means to the viewer. I have this picture hanging on my office wall, and it reminds me every day to not take life for granted. I can't imagine anything more valuable than that.
And to me this picture symbolises America - he f-uked over a homeless man and made a huge amount of cash of him...
That is true, but there is still an objective standard to art. There are pieces of "modern art" that are nothing but a canvas painted dark blue that have a price tag of millions of dollars. That's not art. That's a way to launder money.
I never knew the story behind that picture but it really doesn't matter to me. I have always loved that picture and it hangs in my dining room today. I'm 75 and have had that picture for 50 years and it always reminds me of being thankful for whatever we have, no matter how little.
Amen.
I have OCD ......so i have small little problem with this art .......where the drink .......
That couldn’t have been more perfect timing. My mom had just been going through some old pictures yesterday, and offered me a copy of this picture. It was up in her kitchen for a long time, and she needed room for something different.
Some art just transcends its origins, and this is one proof of that.
It’s so sad that he only got $5.
Still crappy but adjusted for inflation it would be closer to $100 in todays money.
I mean yeah, but at the same time by today’s copyright laws (from what I know) the photographer doesn’t owe any royalties to the model, unless there’s a contract that says otherwise. And it kinda makes sense when it’s a consenting model in an orchestrated studio setting, when celebs these days can be sued for copyright infringement when they use paparazzi pictures of their own face taken without their permission. Still sad though, considering that the guy was poor and the picture generated so much revenue.
@@dotcircles9926On the plus side, it is the model’s ONLY memorial and lasting testament to his life on earth. On the other hand, if he’d done the minimum effort of paying someone to visit just check on him weekly, he might at least also have a grave. It was still possible for a body to go accidentally missing relatively close to civilization in those days just in nearby woods. These days, even if someone doesn’t have anyone to report them, there’s so many people that a body is likely to be found before it’s bones are lost, like a drunken old man who went fishing by himself in his own secret spot, then had a heart attack and died.
🤔
Except Chicago, there’s hidden bodies all over the place.
Nah. It's alcohol addiction. You'd sell your grandmother for a coupla bottles of Nyquil.
Exploitation. Perhaps, even now, the man's descendants could be found and provisions could be made.
My copy of this picture was given to me by my Grandmother, who has since gone to be with the Lord. She prayed over it before giving it to me and I'm thankful to have it. Growing up with the gratitude it portrays, and with the comfort of seeing this displayed in her house and in her sister in law's house it has come to mean much more than where it came from. Its a testament I think, to those of us who have become more than where we came from. :)
This is insane! I have seen this image my whole life including in family homes. I never knew that the model is named Wildin...my last name is Wildin, so it might be my great great grandfather or something. I had to rewatch it to make sure I heard it correctly. I'll have to look into this more! Thanks for the informative video!
I visited my dad and asked what this painting was called because i saw it on his wall and he just responded with "old dude praying"
As someone who was born and raised in the US, I've actually never seen this image before either. But I'm also not from the Midwest where Austin and the photographer are from, where inoffensive Christian imagery like these may be more popular and have more of an assumed ubiquity and icon status to more people. Still an interesting video about an intriguing photo/painting, I hope Charles Wilden was able to live out the rest of his life without too much struggle and rests peacefully somewhere.
I was born and raised in the Midwest, and I've never seen the image either.
Yeah, I am from Missouri, as Austin is, and I have never seen this image before in my life.
I'm from the Midwest and I've never seen it either.
according to the Bill of Rights and free speech, there is no such thing as offensive imagery from any religion, if you believe in our laws, and if you believe in your inalienable rights which also happen to be written in the Bill of Rights, but were recognized as inalienable, natural rights by the writers of the Constitution.
I grew up in Texas and saw it everywhere, too.
This painting has been hanging in my grandparents’ house for my whole life. Absolutely insane to hear the true story behind it.
When it comes to art the viewer has as much right, I think, to interpret the meaning as the artist has in painting it. For example: Norman Rockwell's painting called the "Runaway" shows a diner with a cop and a little boy who has run away from home. Now my grandmother had this on a mug and every time she would use it she would tell me or any one listening that it reminded her of her son and grandson, her son was a cop. It didn't matter to her that the boy in the painting was a runaway, she saw a little boy and a cop dad eating at a diner. That was her special connection to the painting and to her family that lived out of state, seeing that panting on her coffee mug every morning reminded her of the people she loved.
That is so sweet! :) Love it.
I suppose I'm not wrong then, when seeing this, to interpret the downfall of our society. The downtrodden used to create a false facade for another man's riches.
Maybe the real art was the friends we made along the way
If you were a dog I'd rub your belly...
he f-uked over a homeless man and made a huge amount of cash of him...
@@piccalillipit9211 friendship takes many forms...
The art piece, though mainly painted by using "props", conveyed a deeper meaning that came from an inspiration that should speak to all of us. Being grateful for the Grace and blessings given us are good. The reminder of these is part of the artists intent and may possible have come from the heart~
It absolutely matters to me. Learning the origin and intention of any artwork influences appreciation. Clearly it is nostalgic to many, but I could never ignore the unsavory backstory.
In the 1950s a local artist painted an image of what would become- decades later- my childhood home. Flash forward to the 2000s when I was a teenager, when one summer evening my best friend's parents invited me to stay for dinner after an evening playing smash bros on his nintendo 64. In the middle of the meal I took notice of some of the pictures they had hanging in their dining room and noticed (a copy of) that same painting. I said "Hey, that's my house" and we had a good laugh over the coincidence. They had no idea where the house in the painting was, or if it was even a real place! They just thought it was a nice picture to hang on the wall.
I've never seen that "painting" before (and I happen to be from the US). Odd how regional yet strangely popular some things can be.
I grew up with that print in my mother's home in California.
I am from New England, i am 53 I never saw it before ever either...
In Minnesota and Wisconsin, nearly everyone over the age of 60 has that hanging on their wall. It's more ubiquitous than Thomas Kinkade.
Minnesotan here. Fascinating to finally hear the history of this picture that I've seen a million times. It hung in my Grandparent's farmhouse. There is also a less common version with an older woman praying that I suppose was created by the same company. Found it quite entertaining that it's a dictionary in the photo!
Yes, I still have this painting. It was hanging in my late mother in law’s living room and has been in my dining area since she passed. For me it was always a reminder to stay humble. I really enjoyed watching this video. It was fun to actually learn the actual story.
I have it hanging in my dining room. I always felt a close connection to it.. God bless
An "oil painting type" version of this picture hung in my grandparents house for more than 50 years. When they both passed on and their possessions were divided up, I asked for this picture. It's hanging in my kitchen right now!
I love my version of this picture. It doesn't look like a real painting, it just looks like an inexpensive reproduction of an old master. But there's just something about it that makes me feel the importance of having and giving thanks for what I have; however great or little that may be. I also feel the seriousness of ernest reflection, the strength in the belief in a higher power, and the sense of something else that I'm unsure of (and maybe that, as a human, I'm not supposed to know)...
Whatever it is, it feels deep, serious, important, and spiritual. Like I said, I love it!!
My grandparents also had an oil painting version of this above their dining room table. I'm not sure if they still have it because my grandma has been getting rid of things but I'm going to ask if any of the kids or grandkids have already claimed it if they still have it.
It was a popular study for art students, especially throughout the Midwest…
I didn't interpret him as praying. That is the posture of when I am stressed out and just want to go to bed.
I think the freedom for us to assign our own meanings to art is part of what makes it so enticing and valuable. Indeed, having some degree of mystery about a piece adds to the allure, often more than knowing the actual truth of it's origins and the author's intent
When I saw this in my recommended, I was kind of taken aback, because my grandpa has this in his dining room, so it was weird seeing this since I see it whenever I go to his house. I didn't even know so many people had it and I thought it was something only my grandpa has.
As a Minnesotan, I actually knew all about it and had seen a copy in my grandparents house. Neat to hear someone tell the story though, I didn't realize the picture was popular outside of Minnesota 👍
Right. This picture is one of my oldest memories. My grandpa didn't come here till after WWII, and it must have still been popular as fuck
The first time i saw this it was in my pastors home in 1970. I was just a teen but it spoke to me. Years later i found it at a home interior party so i bought it. It hung in my home for 40yrs. It will always be a fav of mine.
My grandma had this hanging in their house and I always liked it. Gave me a home feel somehow lol
the fact that the man was the town drunk also adds to the title message of “grace”. Even if the photo was contrived as an art piece, the message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ is that no one is beyond redemption through salvation. No drug addict, no town drunk, not the murderer on the cross next to Jesus who asked Him for salvation as they both suffered on the crosses. A powerful message and image!
We had this picture in my home growing up, and I must say that it always had an effect on me. So much emotion packed into one image.
My great grandparents had this picture in their kitchen. It is one of the few details I remember about their home and it will always remind me of them when I see it.
This photo was taken in Bovey Minnesota, I live very close to the town. I used to drive past the studio building every day back and forth to work. I have a large picture Grace in my kitchen.
As a person who’s *never* seen this painting in my life: One minute into this video, I feel gaslit.
No, you're not gaslit
Whatever gaslit means.
The Netherlands has “hertje”, the deer by Han van Meegeren. One out of five households had it in their house. He made in in ten minutes, challenged by his students.
Han van Meegeren was also very good in art forgery. He didn’t copy old master, he simply created new work. And people were so glad when they discovered a new “Vermeer” 😂
Hasnt there been many new vermeers, aka. Fake paintings of fanius artists in Netherlands? I even remember that Herman Göring was games into buying one?
@@tuomaslilja1027 that was also a van Meegeren painting. It was the painting that got him caught. Because the Allie’s discovered the painting, and found out that the Vermeer came from him.
At that moment he had two options: the death penalty for collaboration with the nazis or confessing that he made the painting himself.
He chose the last option. And got one year in jail.
@@jannetteberends8730 yeah i remember reading that from the Finnish ”Historialehti”. He also died in jail i think. Thanks for the info😄
How interesting. My father grew up in the Netherlands. I’m going to send him a picture of het hertje and see if he recognizes it.
Another neat "bet you didn't know" example in popular art is the Two Cherubs. I've seen that painting everywhere, but it wasn't until somewhat recently that I learned it's a comparatively minor part of a much larger work - the Sistine Madonna. It's useful as an analogy for tunnel vision, or (in its case quite literally) failing to see the big picture.
Eric Enstrom was a Swedish-born American photographer. He became
famous for his 1918 photograph of Charles Wilden in Bovey, Minnesota.
The photo is now known as Grace and depicts Wilden saying a prayer over a
simple meal. In 2002, "Grace" was designated the state photograph of
Minnesota. Wikipedia
Yep, my grandparents had this in their house and that's the message I always got from it. My grandparents were homesteaders so they were EVERY DAY about being grateful for the small or important things. I think it's pretty sad that this old man who probably didn't have many options in life and started drinking to numb himself was only given $5 and never knew the quiet but HUGE impact he had on generations of this country (US) . It's also fitting to the picture that the seemingly most downtrodden among us could teach us how to be grateful.
6:16 That segue was just as smooth as me trying to quietly get a glass of water at 4 am
So enexpexted
I was expecting him to be like.
And jus like how the profit from the painting doesn’t devalue from the meaning behind it,
The message of this video is not lost by having a sponsor… which is squarespace
@@zeffery101 that's creative
My grandmother had this in her dining-room and I always wondered about it. Thank you so much for making this video.
This actually inspired me to buy a copy of this print. Knowing the story behind it adds more value to me.
For the record, I knew a family with this art work 🖼. Clarion PA. 1990s.
Art is always more interesting when you know the artist and the story behind it
There is now a double meaning to this picture
I saw it in a fancy restaurant when I was a depressed, anxiety ridden, exhausted teenager and I fell in love with it. So I was gifted a copy. My kids for a while thought it was their great, great, grandfather, I don’t know why because I didn’t tell them that.
I never thought that book was a Bible, because even an old church Bible isn’t that big.
My grandparents had this painting in their kitchen. I had long since forgotten it. Thank you for reminding me of my favorite times as a kid.😄😭
Fascinating story! My grandmother had it in her house, and it always fascinated me. It still does.
I've only seen this "painting" once at my professor's house in rural Kansas. Didn't know it was so prolific.
Always liked it, though.
Hell,I've never seen this "painting" before this video..!
I've never seen this painting before
Why were you at your professors house? Working for "extra credit "
@@effbar2400 He and his wife hosted dinners for the students in his department, and I saw the image on the wall in the dining room.
"Oh, it took off in popularity. Wonder how long before the guy screws the old man over?" *15 seconds later* "Ah, there it is."
I have this picture on my wall. It was a gift from two special friends. It meant a lot to them so it means a lot to me. It doesn’t matter how it was staged or made. It brings a sense of peace and comfort to me. It will stay on my wall. I’m 70.
I’ve seen this picture before over the years just took it for what it’s suppose to represent, to give thanks for what you have. Found the back story intriguing and interesting.
I'm not from Bovey, MN, but I am from that area, and I've been to the Enstrom's Studio before (getting school pictures taken there). They have this photo right in front of their building. And I've seen it all over the place. We got it from someone from church's mother who was moving into assisted living at the time, my sister has it at her house, and I think my childhood babysitter had it, too. I like this picture. Never knew that was its origin, but I'm not surprised. Its history is a little more surprising, but I mean, a lot of things aren't what they seem. Whistler just used his mother as a stand-in for his painting, which became the most expensive in the United States. So, stranger things have happened. Great video, btw!
Remember kids, original ideas are cool, but the real money is in making other people's ideas slightly better. Every popular work of art or widespread innovation from the past two millenniums was just someone repeating the joke a little bit louder so the rest of the class could hear it.
i don't know how you could ever be happy with yourself doing that
How is this from 21 hours ago the Video Just released?
@@F5ss HOLY CRAP UR RIGHT
@@F5ss probably a patron or some random who found the unlisted video.
@@F5ss premiere im guessing
The photo is hanging in my home. When i got it a newspaper article was taped to the back about the old man. I believe it said a homeless man at a soup kitchen haha. Stories don't bother me, i love the pic. Reminds me to be grateful, every day🙏
There is a companion piece to this painting called "Gratitude" that features an old woman praying over a book, food, and a water pitcher. I am assuming that it was created many years later, but it isn't uncommon to find both the "Grace" and "Gratitude" painting right beside each other.
Thank you. I was wondering about the other painting. I have both of them and had never heard the story.🤔 I was wondering how that one of her came about?
I just left a comment regarding the other image, we too have both in our kitchen lol
I'd love for Austin to make a follow up video on Gratitude :-)
My dad had both just chilling in our dining room for quite some time
My grandmother has had both up in her kitchen for as long as I can remember.
That's truly fascinating Thank you for sharing this.
I saw it everywhere, & even though I’m not particularly religious, at least within Christianity, I still love it. A painting, or photo, that depicts gratitude for simple things such as a meager meal is, to me at least, a great virtue missing from the modern day.
I’ve seen this picture EVERYWHERE growing up. In churches/houses…. I love the story behind it. I think “art” only needs to speak to one other person than the artist. The fact that it’s touches so many people changes nothing. And the creator should be compensated for their work. 🤷🏽♀️ None of us know what will be a hit. There’s tons of stories of musicians making a quick song to fill a record and that’s the one everyone loves, not the songs that took months to write.
Thanks again Austin. Your storytelling skills always make my day.
Thanks, Constance! I appreciate you sharing our thoughts, and the kind words about the video. Hope you're well!
You just got to tell us, this is a midwestern thing, right?
@@austinmcconnell Thank you. I'm hanging in there. How are YOU doing? After your "heart" video I worry about you sometimes...
@@channeleditor9335 Yeah, I'm from Illinois.... It might be🤷♀
I saw the painting on my pastor's dining room wall in the 1970s in Illinois. I remember thinking of it as a message of humility, devotion, and simplicity, not poverty. I didn't know it was a photograph. The fact that he was acting or that the creator profited is irrelevant to me. That's the craft of actors and producers. Charleston Heston was an actor who portrayed Moses, and the movie producers made a living putting it all together for the audience to experience. Same thing here, smaller scale. The artist communicated a noble idea to my young mind that has stuck with me.
Enjoyed this vid a lot, nice work!
I've never seen this painting, so I don't know why I am watching this but i'll carry on anyway.
I will be honest I got a print of this and it is still one of my favorite prints.also even knowing the background on how this was created. Does not take away what it means to each person. No matter what. We all can have different interpretations of what the picture means to us. That is the beauty of art.
I have this! I had no idea it was so popular as to have someone discussing it on CZcams no less - wow. It was my Grandmother's home and it was the main possession of her's that I wanted when she passed away.
When I first saw it when I was younger, I didn't perceive it as the man praying specifically. I saw it as him sad and frustrated and possibly grieving. Interesting how art is so subjective and personal. I still have this and no... it doesn't matter to me the background of the piece - I love it anyway ❤ Thank you for taking the time, however, to tell this.
My grandpa and grandma had this in their Nebraska farm home, it was and still is inspirational to me.
I live just a few towns away from Bovey and all I knew about this photograph before watching is that there's a sign right on hwy2 as you go thru Bovey depicting the photo and claiming it's origin. Really cool to know the history of something so well renown right in my own small town Minnesota community
I do too and go to Annabellas antiques the sell pictures of this'
You’re telling me that this wasn’t my great great grandfather??
Never saw the picture/painting, but great presentation and....needed to hear about the square web-builders just today! Thank you,
Never once, in my entire life, have I seen this painting, until this moment.
Auston is back at it again with a random video idea I've never thought about, but absolutely love! I've seen this picture everywhere, and I just never thought about it much. Thanks for giving me a new talking piece.
Yup, too bad for Austin, "King of Random" was already taken. 😉
Although I haven’t ever seen this image before, I am often fascinated by obscure stories such as this one, and appreciate you continuing to upload stories like this.
Hey, thanks Andrew! I'm going to do my best to make more videos like this throughout the year. I appreciate you following along.
My aunt had one. She got one for my mom. Now I have it.
Powerful picture. No wonder it was such a big hit.
I'm in Michigan and have this painting and was just reminded of this video when a friend was posting about it and several other people on the thread commented they also grew up seeing this painting on their families walls.
Thank you for posting this video. I find it really interesting . Our church had this picture and a companion to it of an elderly woman saying grace .
I had never seen this painting (as far as I could remember) until watching this video last night. Then this morning I was reading some tips on dealing with my current divorce, which is crushing me, and one that stood out to me was to handle the situation with forgiveness and grace. After a phone call to my dad, I went for a walk and stopped in a thrift store down the street from my office. In the room with the paintings, were not one but two prints of this painting. The interesting thing was that one of them was a recreation with an elderly woman as the subject. Needless to say, I bought it and hung it in my office. It will be a reminder to handle myself with grace, forgiveness, and gratitude through this and future difficult times. Anyway, thanks for bringing this work of art to my attention. I can honestly say that knowing the history behind it did change the way I saw it. Probably wouldn’t have given it a second glance otherwise.
My grandmother has this in her house. It always intrigued me every time I saw it. I always felt like it had definitely had multiple interpretations
It is good to know that an elderly looking man that was paid a few dollars to pose for a picture with a dictionary makes you so emotional.
I've seen it countless times, never thought much about it. Glad you did!
I was always curious about this "painting" that used to hang on my grandparent's kitchen wall and now on my parent's wall. It still carries the same meaning to me but I did find the history of it interesting. No matter the reality of the man behind the image or the props used, they inevitably convey endless meaning to those who gaze upon it. That is art in a nutshell.
My grandparents had a copy of this painting in their house when I was a kid in the 90s. I recently found a larger version at a Goodwill and picked it up for my home. It was beyond surreal to see there is a video about this and it was awesome to learn the origin! :) Great video!
Lol; I’ve seen this print several times at the Goodwill over the years; always interesting stuff at the Goodwill.
I grew up in the MIdwest and have seen this in many homes and church dining halls. The history behind this photo breaks my heart, knowing that that man did not have a comfortable life nor, perhaps, the kinds of meals in front of him in the photo, not to mention the fact that the photographer wasn't more generous with him (not that he owed him, but it would have been nice).
The story about your friend Brian saying it was a painting of his great-great-great grandfather reminded me of something similar in my life: I come from a long line of painters and grew up in a home full of originals done by family members. One day, many years after I'd left home, I saw a painting in a store, the same that had hung on the walls of my childhood home, one I'd always assumed was an original done by a family member. It turns out that it was not.
Yes, he "owed" it. Without this guy the photograph wouldn't exist. And the photographer knew he needed his agreement to further exploit it but scamed him with 5 very insulting dollars knowing this guy is a drunk and can be easily manipulated.
This is very despicable in my opinion.
@@Aaackermann Especially given that by the time the five dollars was offered, the photographer had already sold thousands of copies and knew its value. Greed posing as piety and "traditional values" does make this photo a perfect American icon, though.
Thanks for this fine video Austin, because this picture has a very special meaning to me and have been wanting to buy a copy print..
Awesome video- i have had this painting in every home never knew the origin and im a Minnesotan! It actually now has more meaning thank you and i do think it is art as captured by the photographer.
I remember this "painting" hanging on my grandparents' dining room wall way back in the 60's. I'm still fond of the image, which seemed to embody their Catholic faith. The comfort and meaning the picture brought to people are far and away bigger and more important than its history. Thanks for featuring it in a video!
I have never seen this painting before in my life
I have this, as my grandmother had it in her home for years! It’s great to know the story! And a bit funny, thank you.
Great trivia and a great hunch on the part of the guy taking the picture.