Originally posted on Instagram, 20 February 2025.
Three people walked into the gallery early today.
A couple, with their grown-up daughter.
They introduced themselves as readers of my newsletter.
And we talked about this picture.
I said I hadn’t intended to get it printed*. I thought nobody would like a picture of a house with a boarded-up window.
Which is bonkers, now I think about it.
I walk past that house nearly every day with my schnauzer, Peanut.
The window was boarded up for nearly a year. And I worried about the people living there.
When the magnolia came into flower it looked great – despite standing in front of a house with a boarded window.
(Or because?)
So I made this picture on my iPad.
After we’d been talking for a while, my friends the newsletter readers went away.
“Bye!” I said. Thank you for coming.”
But they had only gone to the cafe downstairs.
After a while they returned and said they wanted to buy the picture.
I watched as they placed a red dot on the frame.
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I’m constantly surprised that pictures I don’t think will appeal to anyone turn out to be well liked.
In this case I’m obliged to consider the possibility that brokenness is an attraction, rather than a downside.
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“Magnolias of Hampstead”
27 pics by John-Paul Flintoff
WHERE Burgh House, New End Square, London NW3
WHEN till Sunday 23 Feb
10am – 4pm
All the digital work in this show is available to purchase.
Each one is in a limited edition of seven numbered and signed prints on archival A2 Hahnemuhle German Etching paper.
Shipping worldwide.
Thank you for looking.
*Why did I get it printed? Because I was worried I didn’t have enough pictures to show.
@burghhouse1704
-If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it by email or on social media. Here's the link. Thanks, JPF.