In a delightful display of wit and keen observation, readers of the Guardian have once again filled the newspaper's letters page with sharp insights, humorous anecdotes, and thoughtful reappraisals. From an unexpected artistic comparison to a mysterious village plaque, the correspondence offers a charming snapshot of public discourse.
An Unlikely Artistic Reappraisal
One correspondent has sparked a fascinating debate by drawing a parallel between two very different artworks recently featured in the paper. Steve Shearsmith from Beverley, East Yorkshire, noted a striking similarity between Cecilia Giménez's infamous 'Ecce Homo' restoration – widely known as the 'Monkey Christ' – and Pablo Picasso's 1941 watercolour, 'Tête de Femme'.
This observation came shortly after the Guardian reported on the death of Giménez at 94 on 30 December and the news that a Picasso portrait was being raffled for charity for just €100 on 31 December. Shearsmith's letter provocatively suggests that Giménez's much-maligned work, born from a botched restoration attempt in 2012, may be worthy of a fresh critical look, placing it in a conversation with modernist masters.
Fashion, History, and Linguistic Revivals
Elsewhere in the postbag, readers celebrated personal victories and clarified historical curiosities. Valerie Lewis, 88, from Wantage, Oxfordshire, expressed her delight at finally being deemed fashionable after 25 years of loyal service to the practical quarter-zip jumper, praising its ease and versatility.
Robert Tilleard from Tisbury, Wiltshire, solved a local mystery. He pointed out that an inscription on a wall in Isle Abbotts, Somerset, which reads "On this Spot on 12 June 1761 Nothing Happened," is unlikely to be related to the Julian-Gregorian calendar change, unless the rural county was remarkably behind the times.
In a nod to linguistic history, Bridget Marrow from Pinner, London, clarified that the modern phrase "six-seven" is a revival of the older saying "at sixes and sevens", meaning a state of confusion or disorder, famously used in Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore.
A Plaque for a Time Traveller
Perhaps the most whimsical contribution came from Brian Ferris of Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He reported a wonderfully anachronistic English Heritage-style plaque on a house in Long Itchington, Warwickshire. The plaque commemorates one "Jacob von Hogflume, 1864-1909, inventor of time travel", but claims he "lived here in 2169". This playful piece of fiction perfectly captures the British affection for understated, intellectual humour.
These letters collectively highlight the engaged and often erudite nature of the Guardian's readership. They move seamlessly from art criticism to sartorial vindication, from historical pedantry to playful fabrication, proving that the tradition of the letters page remains a vital and entertaining forum for public thought and humour.
