She breaks the white
to fragments of eternal hues,
never caring
if they match the draperies of absent suns;
she ceased to care about horizons
to gaze above for verticals
to climb,
escape from the gilded cage
of its false embrace.
For the prize of fame
the room is broken by the brush
her life on canvas
changed from body, flesh and blood
into broken pigments, oil
and owned
Frantisek Kupka
Today it is dVerse OLN with a live session on Saturday with Lillian hosting. We are given an extra prompt with the painting “Madame Kupka between verticals”. I am sorry for imagining a story between the two paintings, The picture was created by painting over an earlier painting of his wife.
His wife was named Eugénie Straub before she became Mme Kupka. They were married around 1910 around the same time as the second painting was painted. She is one of his most frequent models, but except that there is nothing more to be found through internet search.
Frantisek was a pioneer in the abstract movement, and I can really feel that transition in the second painting where his wife is painted over with his last name.
January 15, 2026
Björn Rudbergs writings 
“the room is broken by the brush” – what a brilliant line to denote the representational into this abstract
Thank you… I reflected a lot on the image.
THANK YOU, Bjorn for doing some research on this painting and the artist. I had no idea the story behind the painting and this makes is all the more interesting! I love that you’ve penned between the two portraits to tell the story here. LOVE it!
It was a little bit research but also a lot of imagination based on the portraits and timeline.
You don’t need to apologize. I wondered about her, too. Thank you for sharing both paintings. So many interesting lines here.
“the room is broken by the brush” stands out to me.
Thank you… it was a mystery for me, I could not find anything about her really… a muse, a wife a model…
You’re welcome. I did a brief search, but I didn’t find too much either.
“never caring
if they match the draperies of absent suns”
There is such strong imagery in this poem, Bjorn. I love how raw the emotion is, how the details unravel with “the room is broken by the brush,”..
This is poetry at its finest! ❤️❤️
Thank you… it took me some research for once (and finding that earlier picture)
Nice.
I especially like these lines:
“She breaks the white
to fragments of eternal hues”
It was a very inspiring painting to write on.
Love the way you embraced the painting to research and imagine. What an interesting story. I especially like the idea that “she ceased to care about horizons
to gaze above for verticals
to climb”
The more I researched the painting and the painter the model became my interest.
Bjorn, after reading your afterword and looking at the 2 images, it became clear why you drew the conclusion you did. She looks blithely oblivious in the first and drowning in the 2nd.
I thought I could spot a story there…
Bjorn, it seems that there are many possible stories in that stark transition.
Thank you for the background to the painting. Björn, which added to your poem. I have to say I prefer Madame Kupka between verticals and agree about the transition. I love these lines:
‘she ceased to care about horizonsto gaze above for verticals’
and
‘changed from body, flesh and bloodinto broken pigments, oil
and owned’.
I prefer the new painting too, and this is clearly a transition to even more abstract
Broken by brush. Could be a Twilight Zone. Dorian Gray of color.
Indeed… imprisoned by hues
Nicely done!
🙂
An intriguing and complex interpretation of the paintings. Thank you.
A complex painting is the reason
wow some great lines My favourite ‘they match the draperies of absent suns’ and ‘the room is broken by the brush’
Thanks… I saw for myself a suffocating room
You can easily see the evolution of an aesthetic between the two paintings, but the muse’s entrapment in it is what emerges in your poem. Indeed. The heart never loses its roseate illusion and the art never shuts up saying so.
The progression in art is so very clear, but the fact of the name and the fact that the old painting is overpainted made me think.
Beautiful verse
Thank you
The poem begins with fragmentation and journeys through cause and affection. Luv it
🎇much love
Indeed. Her word seems to fracture
After not reading you for so long Bjorn, I have to say I am impressed with the growth in both style and substance that this poem displays, as well as the attention to detail which makes the theme stand out the stronger. How many of us have been put behind bars–and how seldom do the jailers take responsibility for the result.
Thank you… it has been a few years… reading an writing sometimes pays off.
” I am sorry for imagining a story between the two paintings” ~ I am thankful you did. I have read your poem more than several times, sitting at my desk imagining all sorts of stories, scenarios. Your entire post is intelligent, absorbing, creative, brilliant.
I just wanted to state that I do not know if she was suppressed or not, but that is what I imagined.
How fascinating to see these two paintings next to each other. The story behind the art always adds to the seeing of it.
Your poem is wonderful. I agree with others, this line is a standout. “the room is broken by the brush.”
Thank you… the painter and the model talked to me through the art.
A fascinating transformation of his art, of art itself, of his wife’s painting – all captured in one new painting – and of course your poem, Björn – brilliant…
Thank you… this must have been so transformative….
Very cool poem, I like his painting style and your writing style!
Thank you… I liked the painting too.
Thanks for the background Björn, so interesting, you can see how he has transformed his painting and you capture this in your words beautifully 🙂
Thank you… to me it was more an absence of story than the story that I found.
A fascinating take on the paintings. I think we all loved that line,
The room is broken by the brush.
Brilliant!
Thanks s a lot… 🙂
How sad. I see in your poem a woman who gave up on life. I feel so sad for her.
It is my own invention- she might have been a loving wife
Your writing was both very effective and affective.
Nice write Björn, working well with the painting of his wife 👏
What magic: “the draperies of absent suns;”