In 1918 in the town of Bovey, Minnesota, Eric Enstrom took a photo of Charles Wilden sitting at a small table in prayer. Wilden had stopped by Enstrom's studio to try to sell him footscrapers. Enstrom, who was trying to build his portfolio, asked the man to sit for him and prepared a set with a table, a bible, a loaf of bread, and a bowl of gruel. Of his famous photo Enstrom once said, "I wanted to make people conscious of the things they had instead of the things which they had to do without."
Today Enstrom's picture "Grace" is known and loved throughout the world. Also know as "Give Us this Day Our Daily Bread" and "The Old Man Praying at the Dinner Table," the image was originally printed by the photographer in both sepia tone and black and white. Later Enstrom's daughter Rhoda Nyberg began creating oil paintings based on the photo. In 2002, the photograph was designated the state photograph of Minnesota.
"Grace" has graced the kitchen wall at 838 Virginia Ave for many years (anyone know how many?) and is now also keeps watch over the kitchen at 28 Fernald Lane in Eliot Maine after a being purchased for $1 at a junk shop nearby.
I was going to say something smart alecky but you know what...Nice post.
ReplyDeleteYour post brought tears. I know this photo was in grandmother's 30+ years ago.
ReplyDeleteI believe this photo hung in my grandmother's house on St. John's Road for many years before coming to Virginia Ave. It was in the dinning room, a room never used to my knowledge. It came to my mother when her parents left ST. John's for smaller digs in town. Sister or Agnas would know for sure. If so, and I am fairly sure it is so, the object is more than 60 years in our family.
ReplyDeleteBilly