40″ x 30″
Oil on Canvas
Private Collection – Toronto, ON
The Two Blue Eyes of my Beloved
The two blue eyes of my darling
they sent me into the wide world.
I had to take my leave of this most-beloved place!
O blue eyes, why did you gaze on me?
Now I have eternal sorrow and grief.
I went out into the quiet night well across the dark heath.
To me no one bade farewell.
Farewell! My companions are love and sorrow!
By the road stood a linden tree,Where, for the first time,
I found rest in sleep!
Under the linden tree that snowed its blossoms over me,
I did not know how life went on, and all was well again!
All! All, love and sorrow and world and dream!
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
It appears to have been in the orchestral version that the cycle was first performed, in 1896, but possible indications of an earlier, voice-and-piano performance cannot be discounted. The work was published in 1897 and is one of Mahler’s most well-known compositions.