The painting had been famous years ago. Everyone who had seen it in person agreed that it was breathtakingly special.  The artist who created had become famous because of it.

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     But that was a long time ago. Time went by, tastes changed, and people gradually forgot about it.

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     Then one day, it was announced that the painting would return to the public spotlight in a series of appearances across the country.  Not only that, the famous artist who had created it would be touring with it.

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     The old timers who remembered it came. They brought their spouses, their relatives and their children as the painting made the rounds of the cities on its itinerary.

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     On the opening night in a very plush theater, the darkened stage came slowly to life with light and there stood the painting on a velvet draped easel in all of its glory. Some of the figures had faded with time and couldn’t be seen, but most of the painting was exactly as it was back it its glory days.

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     Standing directly in front of the painting was the artist, dressed in shimmering black and wearing white shoes - long flowing white hair and a white flowing moustache. He held a pointer in his hand like a baton.

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     The crowd cheered in wild anticipation.

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     “This is the painting that I created”, he began. More cheers.

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     “And this is the left side of the painting that I created”, he continued as moved to the left side of the painting.

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     “And this is the right side of the painting I created”, he intoned as he moved to the right side of the painting.

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     “Do you see this color here?” he asked while pointing to a shimmer of color atop one of the figures.  “Let me tell you how I discovered it… I remember the day…”

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     On and on he went… explaining, demonstrating, stepping aside only for a moment now and then to show off a particular shape, color, theme, but always returning to center stage directly in front of the painting, while the old folks and children craned their necks this way and that to catch a glimpse of the entire painting at once - which was of course, totally impossible.

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     At the end of the evening, most everyone had a stiff neck from stretching, but for the most part, they were pleased. They had come to see the painting and they had seen it. At least most of it…