PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Wednesday, 7 March 2012

A Haunted Painting?

The last few days have been a bit topsy-turvy at Pear Tree log.  People have come down with colds, including 6 week old Francesca, so we have had lots of child-minding and baby-sitting duties.  Not surprisingly, George finally succumbed to their cold and decided to sleep in Jonny's old room so that at least one of us would be fit to help look after the grandchildren.


What George didn't know was that I had recently stored a couple of paintings under Jonny's bed, to keep them safe.  Not just any paintings, they were done by an artist who, way back in the 60's and 70's exhibited and sold his work in New York, London, on the continent.  His work isn't to everyone's taste, I really like some of them,  but really it is the story behind the works which make them special to me.
See note at bottom of page...
The artist was the late Dr Edwin Aldrige Haddock, also known as Finn.   He died in 1996 aged 73.  During the second World War he trained to become a Typhoon pilot and in 1943 he was shot down in northern France.  He was picked up by the French Resistance and while he was with them he was captured by the Gestapo, taken to Tours Prison where he endured torture and beatings.  They demanded to know the names of the people involved in the resistance but despite being tortured for 99 days he didn't crack, they  sent him on to Stalag Luft III, site of the Great Escape.  Finally,  at the end of the war ,he had to flee the Russians who refused to hand the prisoners over to the Americans.
Cobra
Once back in England he trained as a doctor and eventually became a GP in Grimsby.  For the rest of his life he was a tormented man.  His experiences haunted him and he began painting through the night hours, when his memories were at their worst.    Amazing paintings which initially look very child-like, but they are incredible, they tell the story of his torture, individual torturers, and the torment of his mind.  They are complex layers of paint and texture,  his way of expressing the horrors he suffered.
He often represented himself as a fish, not surprising, given his surname!  This one is called The Interrogator, Finn Haddock represented himself as the red fish.


To cut a long story short,  without any knowledge that the paintings were there, George had a terrible night.  When he got up this morning he said he would never sleep in that room again... The room had changed shape and he was being tortured in the darkness, in a pit.  He said he felt as though someone was trying to pull his body apart.  Obviously this is a highly edited version, but George isn't given to fanciful notions.


The story of how I bought the paintings (at auction) is for another post.  
Sea Witch
PS.  I have switched the photos round, Sea Witch is a little troubling to be on your side bar.  Sorry, so instead I have posted a photo of the pond - more peaceful.  I will continue the story - without scary photos as soon as I have time.x



21 comments:

  1. I'm not surprised..The Interrogator is frightening! The poor tortured soul (Dr H).
    Jane x
    PS Hope all your colds bu$$er off soon.

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    1. Hi Jane, What a man,e was a tortured soul, but he didn't crumble. I think you will find part ii quite interesting. We only succumbed to colds because we had run out of fenugreek seeds however, a new supply was secured yesterday, fenugreek 'tea' has now been imbibed and we are fighting the pesky cold off already.

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  2. Sorry to hear about the cold virus visiting everyone. Hope it doesn't stay long.

    Powerful art. Doesn't surprise me about George's uncomfortable night considering it sounds like Dr. Haddock put the tortured bits of his soul into those paintings.

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    1. Hi Janet, Watch out for part 2, it won't be as scary, but it is interesting. The colds are being fought off using tea - fenugreek 'tea'!

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  3. Wow, your posting gave me goosebumps! It seems that both your husband and Ian are sensitive to psychic disturbances. Ian has posted about incidences, as well. What do you plan to do with the paintings? The Interrogator is especially powerful. It feels like there are swirling evil forces raging through it! I'm glad it is a continent away from me.

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    1. Hi Ms Sparrow, Sorry, I didn't mean to spook you, but I thought it was interesting. Not all of his paintings are scary, but they are all powerful. Watch out for part 2.

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  4. Powerful images. I can believe the demons weren't trapped in the oils.

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    1. Hi Joanne, They are powerful. We have been their caretakers for probably 12 years now and I'll tell you why in part II - I just haven't got the time right now.

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  5. Hello Elaine...I'm very late in commenting again. Gardening chores have taken over my life. It will be that way for at least another month.
    Your post is not a good bedtime story for me. Fortunately, I'm editing photos tonight and will be up for awhile. I believe the paintings are that powerful. I don't believe I could have them in my home.
    I'm ready to hear how you acquired these paintings...take care and stay well.

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    1. Hi Meggie, Many apologies, it was a bit strong, not intended to upset anyone. The paintings are powerful. Part two will tell you why I ended up with them, but it won't contain any more images.

      Busy day ahead of us today we have to travel up the coast to visit the Aged Aunt, should be fun!

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    2. Hi Elaine....no apology necessary. They are truly haunting. I can't imagine what he endured to paint like this.But you can be sure that his pain is locked in on the canvas. I'm also a painter, so I understand a little about art. Have a good day with your travels...

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  6. What a spooky story. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? They really are tortured paintings and I can imagine how they would haunt a room.

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    1. Hi Evlyn, Absolutely right, they are mostly (but not exclusively) tortured paintings. I had been checking their condition the other day, which is why some of the spookier ones were in the house.....

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  7. That's an amzing story...Poor George! I've never really thought about paintings 'holding' emotions before. Hope thatyouall feel better soon. Jx

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    1. Hello Jan, Thank you - George is feeling much better now.

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  8. We grew fenugreek as a green manure at the allotment a few years ago - the smell was wonderful. I don't think I could have the paintings in the house!I am looking forward to hearing how you acquired them though.I hope you're all feeling better soon.

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    1. Hi Scarlet, The magic of fenugreek tea! Feeling much better, thank you!

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  9. Fenugreek tea for a cold? I'll try that remedy next time it's needed. Looking forward to hearing about how you acquired the paintings.

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    1. Hi Doohie, The tea is made from fenugreek seeds and should be boiled for a minute(unusual, but necessary. There is some science behind the choice of fenugreek - I'll post it when I find the link.

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  10. Wow those are some powerful paintings! And what a story. Art therapy is an excellent way to deal with trauma. I can't imagine what that poor man went through.

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  11. Hi Knatolee, This is a small selection of them. My photographs don't do them justice, they really are complex and multi-layered.

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