this comes from "As you like it"
meaning:
These lines, spoken by Duke Senior upon his introduction in Act II, scene i, establish the pastoral mode of the play. With great economy, Shakespeare draws a dividing line between the “painted pomp” of court—with perils great enough to drive the duke and his followers into exile—and the safe and restorative Forest of Ardenne .The woods are romanticized, as they typically are in pastoral literature, and the mood is set for the remainder of the play. Although perils may present themselves, they remain distant, and, in the end, there truly is “good in everything” . This passage, more than any other in the play, presents the conceits of the pastoral mode. Here, the corruptions of life at court are left behind in order to learn the simple and valuable lessons of the country. Shakespeare highlights the educational, edifying, and enlightening nature of this foray into the woods by employing language that invokes the classroom, the library, and the church: in the trees, brooks, and stones surrounding him, the duke finds tongues, books, and sermons. As is his wont, Shakespeare goes on to complicate the literary conventions upon which he depends. His shepherds and shepherdesses, for instance, ultimately prove too lovesick or dim-witted to dole out the kind of wisdom the pastoral form demands of them, but for now Shakespeare merely sets up the opposition between city and country that provides the necessary tension to drive his story forward.

Beautify Your Home With Contemporary Art

If you’re looking for something to fill up your wall space and make it look more interesting, why not try contemporary art. Contemporary art, in itself, doesn’t always have to mean anything. Contemporary art is often not a direct representation of something in its true form, but rather it is an abstract representation of it. Contemporary art comes in many different styles – some are wild splashes of loud color, others have smooth lines and warm colors that give a sense of calm when looked upon. Many of these contemporary art pieces were painted a long time ago – some of them from famous artists that are known to many of us. Having a reproduced print of these artist’s great works will definitely be an interesting addition to your home. Imagine having an art piece in your living room that was originally painted by Pablo Picasso or Georgia O’Keeffe – that would be nice wouldn’t it? As contemporary art stretches across so many genres and forms, it would suit very well with most home decorating styles.

Once you have bought your favorite art piece, explore unique ways of presenting it to your audience. If you have several pieces of art that you want to hang on the wall, try grouping them creatively to add a more interesting look. If the art piece is small enough, why not frame it and place it on a shelf or side table – it’s nice to be able to pick it up to have a closer look once in a while. Art doesn’t have to be hung on the wall. You can simply place it on the floor and lean it against a wall or a piece of furniture, perhaps against a cupboard or side table – just make sure that the art piece will not obstruct walkways, and that it isn’t too large or too small that would make it look out of place.

Just hanging a solitary piece of art on the wall may not be enough, why not tell a story by including accessories or other decorative ornaments to compliment the art work. For example, if you have a piece of Asian contemporary art on the wall, you can place a small coffee table below it and decorate it with Asian antiques – maybe include some stone carvings of Buddha, or perhaps a few candles or flowers to add more variety and complete the look. Make sure that the items you choose will suit the theme of the art piece and not steal attention away from it.

Once the art is hung on the wall, use creative lighting to bring attention to it and to give it a stunning look. This will certainly lend excitement and be a point for interesting conversation, especially in the evenings when you’re having a nice cocktail party with your guests – or perhaps enjoying some special time alone with a loved one.

There are many exciting ways you can display your art in your home. This article only highlights a few of them. Be daring and unique – let your hair down when it comes to creativity. There are no hard and fast rules in interior decorating. If you’re short on ideas, look through your favorite home decorating magazines and books to draw new inspiration. The creative possibilities are endless.

About the Author

Edwin owns Abstract Prints, an online art gallery offering more than 20,000 contemporary wall art prints for home and office decorating. Decorate your home with contemporary art today!