Proverbidioms
Encyclopedia
Proverbidioms is an oil painting by American artist T. E. Breitenbach
depicting over 300 common proverb
s, catchphrases, and cliché
s such as "You are what you eat", "a frog in the throat", and "kicked the bucket". It is painted on a 45 by 67 inch wooden panel and was completed in 1975 after two years work, when the artist was 24. The included sayings are painted quite literally and appear comical and bizarre, especially if one does not at first realize what the painting is about. For example, "You are what you eat" is represented in the painting by a carrot eating a carrot. The painting also contains hidden social commentary, and a reference to Pieter Bruegel (a favorite of the artist) who did a painting of Dutch proverbs
in the sixteenth century. The title Proverbidioms is a simple portmanteau word combining "proverb" with "idioms".
", "As the World Turns
", and on a Disney pilot.
Proverbidioms is used extensively in education to teach about proverbs in classrooms, in corporate creativity workshops, in teaching the deaf, and in teaching English to foreign students. The Canadian Institute of English and the Watchtower Society in particular have taken the posters to over 100 countries for this last-mentioned purpose.
The artist painted additional versions of this title along with related themed paintings.
T. E. Breitenbach
Thomas E. Breitenbach is a self-taught American artist best known for his painting Proverbidioms, a raucous and comical depiction of over 300 common proverbs and clichés. He also collaborated with Jim Morrison of The Doors, shortly before Morrison's death, on a painting intended for use on his An...
depicting over 300 common proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
s, catchphrases, and cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
s such as "You are what you eat", "a frog in the throat", and "kicked the bucket". It is painted on a 45 by 67 inch wooden panel and was completed in 1975 after two years work, when the artist was 24. The included sayings are painted quite literally and appear comical and bizarre, especially if one does not at first realize what the painting is about. For example, "You are what you eat" is represented in the painting by a carrot eating a carrot. The painting also contains hidden social commentary, and a reference to Pieter Bruegel (a favorite of the artist) who did a painting of Dutch proverbs
Netherlandish Proverbs
Netherlandish Proverbs is a 1559 oil-on-oak-panel painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder which depicts a land populated with literal renditions of Flemish proverbs of the day...
in the sixteenth century. The title Proverbidioms is a simple portmanteau word combining "proverb" with "idioms".
History
Proverbidioms was completed in 1975 and published by Breitenbach as a poster in 1980, along with the list of included sayings. It remains in print to this day as it has proven quite popular. Several counterfeit posters have turned up over the years. In 1988, Proverbidioms was published as a jigsaw puzzle by Bits & Pieces and then by SunsOut, and is still in print. It has been licensed for other products as well. It has appeared as a set piece on the TV shows "Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
", "As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
", and on a Disney pilot.
Proverbidioms is used extensively in education to teach about proverbs in classrooms, in corporate creativity workshops, in teaching the deaf, and in teaching English to foreign students. The Canadian Institute of English and the Watchtower Society in particular have taken the posters to over 100 countries for this last-mentioned purpose.
The artist painted additional versions of this title along with related themed paintings.
List of paintings in the Proverbidioms series
- (1975) Proverbidioms http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/proverbs-o.htm
- (1977) Proverbidioms II http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/proverbs2-o.htm
- (1999) Ultimate Proverbidioms http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/ultimate.htm
- (2007) Proverbidioms IV: Who Missed the Boat? http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/proverbs4.htm
Related paintings
- (1983) Catchpenny http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/catchpenny.htm
- (1985) Housecalls http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/housecalls.htm
- (1989) Computerese http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/computerese.htm
- (1991) Sporttease http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/sporttease.htm
- (1992) Shakespearience http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/shakespearience-o.htm
- (1994) Eats http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/eats.htm
- (1996) Things of the Garden http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/thingsofthegarden-o.htm
- (2006) A Picture of Health http://tebreitenbach.com/gallery/pictureofhealth.htm