 |
| Essex & Co. Ribbon Frieze ca. 1908 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| James Huntington Huntington Rosette ca. 1840-60 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Anonymous English designer Nursery Frieze - Dutch Girls ca. 1910 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Jeffrey & Co. Frieze - Elgin Marbles 1851 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Arthur Sanderson & Co. Border - Bourbon Rose ca. 1840-50 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
PICKING
Go ahead, you pick, it makes absolutely no difference to me.
They should too, I'm not just saying it,
go ahead and pick, for me any of them are just fine.
You like this one? take it then.
Or this one? you're not sure? you like both?
take them both, there's plenty.
Only one? whatever you want, think about it, no rush, this one?
me? what do you want me to say, you're the one who's got to like it,
my opinion is that I think it looks good, you think so too?
so take it then.
And the rest of you, don't just stand there frozen in place,
first you're laughing, and now you're all stressed out?
pick whichever one you want, I haven't even given it a thought,
they're all the same to me, do I h ave to draw you a picture?
But you, we're not settled anymore? I can see it in your face,
you're having second thoughts? you want to make a change?
what are you looking at? show me, you want that one?
go on, put back the other one, you know you've really got a good eye.
So now, everyone's picked?
And this one's left for me, well just look at that,
I hadn't even given it a thought,
you know what I've got to say to all of you?
that if I'd been the one with first choice this is the one I'd have picked.
But then again, really, they're all nice.
At any rate, we're all even, one for everyone,
no bickering, you're looking at me, you're not happy?
you want this one?
– Raffaello Baldini (1924-2005), translated by Adria Bernardi
 |
| Walter Crane for Jeffrey & Co. Dado - Robed Male Figures in Boat 1877 block-printed-wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Anonymous English designer Salmon-fishing in the Highlands ca. 1870 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Walter Crane for Jeffrey & Co Frieze fragment - Peacock 1878 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Walter Crane for Jeffrey & Co Rosamund 1908 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Thomas Avery Corner-piece ca. 1850 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Jeffrey & Co Albion ca. 1882 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Walter Crane for Jeffrey & Co Oak 1904 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| William Morris Acanthus 1875 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
 |
| Anonymous English designer 'Print Room' ca. 1760 block-printed wallpaper Victoria & Albert Museum, London |