DUENDE

DOO-wen-dé -- (n.) The power to attract with an irresistible charm and magnetism; an alluring spirit.

While the French use the phrase "Je ne sais quoi" to describe that mysterious allure that some people have, the Spaniards have a similar concept but with a twist. Duende from Spanish for "ghost, goblin," describes the power of the artist or a performer to draw in their audience, to pull bystanders with an irresistible force from which it is difficult to tear away. The Spanish poet Frederico Garcia Lorca described Duende as a power, not a behavior implying that Duende is something inherent and magical--an aura, not an action. It is a heightened state of authenticity and expression and passion all rolled into one. And though its sightings are rare, its power is undeniable. How would you use this word, you ask? You'll know when you see it.

~Wordeby's by Chanel Rion

🦋 ART: "The Giant" by N.C. Wyeth 🦋 STYLE: Romanticism and Realism 🦋 N.C. Wyeth was an American illustrator and painter. Any perusing of his works will immediately conjure up strains of Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker -- for good reason. Wyeth came from that same gorgeous age where illustrators and artists played with reality in expressively romantic ways. Wyeth was trained by the legendary Howard Pyle himself and Wyeth would go on to paint over 3,000 works and illustrate 112 books. He was a rarity in that he was successful in both his painting and illustrating careers. His work came of age at a time when photography was giving illustrators a run for their money. Needless to say, Wyeth's work withstood photography, and portrayed the world and its stories in ways that a camera never could.