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New York City in September can be overwhelming. With New York Fashion Week, Climate Week, United Nations events, and the Armory art fair all happening at once, the city feels busier than ever. The streets are more crowded, restaurants are packed, and finding a cab becomes a challenge. The noise level seems to multiply, adding to the already chaotic atmosphere of a city. In general, cities are known for being loud, but nowadays, even public spaces like cafes and stores bombard us with loud music. As someone who lives in New York and is a writer struggling to work in noisy environments, I’ve been contemplating the idea of finding quiet spaces.
Most of us would agree that we could benefit from reducing the volume in our lives, but to what end? James Tissot, a French painter known for his depictions of high society, created a painting called “The Creation” between 1896 and 1902. This abstract landscape portrays a body of water enveloped by a billow of cloud and vapor, with a small eddy revealed in the midst. Although there are no signs of human or marine life, the painting exudes a sense of animation, with beautiful patches of golden light. The serene atmosphere amidst the mist, water, and sunlight captivates me. Looking at this painting brings about a calming and meditative effect, despite its formless void. It reminds me that chaos doesn’t necessarily have to be negative. In fact, when we can’t control or predict what happens, it opens up possibilities and sparks creativity. The quiet chaos depicted in this painting represents the nascent stage of something forming, where creativity takes hold. When we seek quiet spaces to clear our heads, we are essentially seeking ways to bring order to the chaos within ourselves.
Another painting that explores the benefits of quiet spaces is “High Tide, Étretat” by Daniel Ridgway Knight, painted in 1884. In this artwork, two women are reclining on the debris-strewn sands of the oceanfront, appearing to be laborers taking a break. The absence of a protective blanket underneath them indicates their connection to the land and their surroundings. The crashing waves and the sound of birds overhead create a natural soundtrack for this scene. Both women are staring at the sea, but one of them positions herself headfirst, lost in thought. I imagine her listening intently as the ocean speaks amidst the quiet. This painting reminds us that quiet spaces are not necessarily silent spaces. It is the reduction of sound that allows us to appreciate the sounds we desire in our lives and eliminate the ones we want less of. During a recent retreat in a cottage surrounded by nature, I sat outside during lunchtime and noticed the reverberating hum of insects. In that moment, I realized that nature is always speaking, and it made me reflect on how we can become better stewards of sounds in our lives. Taking inventory of the sounds we encounter daily can help us determine which ones to eliminate and which ones to embrace.
Elin Danielson-Gambogi, a Finnish painter from the 19th century, created a painting called “After Breakfast” in 1890. This artwork depicts a young woman lounging at a messy breakfast table, casually holding a cigarette. She appears to be lost in thought, contemplating something. This painting reminds me of the quote by Annie Dillard: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” If we truly desire quiet spaces, we must figure out how to incorporate them into our daily routines and commitments, even if it means taking a few extra minutes at the breakfast table. This painting also serves as a reminder that finding a peaceful location doesn’t guarantee inner peace. We must learn to be comfortable with ourselves regardless of our surroundings. It’s humbling to realize that we carry our fears and anxieties wherever we go. To truly benefit from a quiet space, we must make peace with our own company.
In conclusion, these paintings invite us to consider the importance of finding quiet spaces in our cluttered lives. They remind us that chaos doesn’t have to be negative and that creativity can emerge from quiet chaos. They also encourage us to pay attention to the sounds we encounter and make conscious choices about which sounds we want to welcome into our lives. Ultimately, finding and appreciating quiet spaces requires us to be at peace with ourselves. So, the question remains: are we prepared to dwell in the quiet spaces we seek?
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