Benders Poetry Gear – Notebooks, Backpacks and Tshirts

Writing gear for the conspicuously literary

Menu
  • Home
  • Poetry gear
    • Poetry backpacks
    • Poetry bags
    • Tshirts
    • Poloshirts for men
    • Poloshirts for women
  • Collections
    • Castles get kicked in the bricks series
    • Philosophy Shirts
  • Languages
    • English books
    • Dutch books
    • Deutsche bucher
    • Livres Francais
    • Poesia Espanol
    • Libri italiano
    • Livros portugueses
    • Russian books
    • Books in mandarin
    • Books in arabic
  • Blog posts
    • Philosophers notebooks
    • Writers and poets
    • Castle stories
    • Weblog
      • Psychosupersum
      • Mushroom philosophy
      • Literature vault
  • Music
    • Music
    • Mantra Dance
    • Kroes den Bock
    • Spotify Lists
      • Top 200 of Modern Hip Hop – Global Chart Curated by Diskjokk Murtunutru
      • Alien Music from Other Planets
      • 34 Hours with Feargal Sharkey Striking at Wonders
      • German NDW & New Wave Essentials
      • German Songbook – The Best Tracks and Lyrics
      • Anarcho Punk: Raw Power, Pure Energy
      • Psychedelic Peace – The Final Hippie Selection
      • Top Reggae from the Gamma Quadrant
  • Literature in
    • English
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Deutsch
    • Turkish
    • Russian
    • Spanish
    • French
    • Chinese
    • Arab
    • Portugese
Menu

The Snowman and the Butcher

The Snowman and the Butcher by Martijn Benders is a striking and thought-provoking painting that captures the viewer’s attention with its bold and unconventional style. The painting depicts a scene in which a snowman, standing tall and proud in the center of the canvas, is surrounded by three dogs – one standing on its hind legs, one sitting on its hind legs, and one bending down in a playful pose. The backdrop of the painting is a stark, snowy landscape, with a lone tree standing tall in the distance.

The first thing that stands out about this painting is its striking use of color. The snowman is depicted in vibrant shades of blue, green, and yellow, with bright red buttons and a carrot nose adding pops of color to the composition. The dogs, on the other hand, are painted in more muted shades of brown and grey, blending into the snowy landscape and drawing the viewer’s attention towards the snowman.

The style of the painting is heavily influenced by Russian art, with clear references to the works of famous Russian painters such as Ivan Shishkin and Isaac Levitan. Like these artists, Benders has captured the harsh, unforgiving beauty of the Russian winter, using bold brushstrokes and bright, vibrant colors to bring the scene to life. The snowman’s pose, with its arms outstretched and head held high, is reminiscent of the heroic figures often depicted in Russian art, while the dogs’ playful antics add a touch of whimsy and levity to the scene.

One of the most intriguing elements of the painting is the presence of the three dogs. The dog standing on its hind legs, with its head cocked to one side and its eyes fixed on the snowman, seems to be engaging in some sort of communication with the frozen figure. The dog sitting on its hind legs, meanwhile, looks on with a curious expression, as if it is trying to understand what is happening. The third dog, which is bending down in a playful pose, adds a sense of movement and energy to the scene.

The presence of these three dogs serves to add depth and meaning to the painting. On one hand, they represent the human desire to connect with and understand the natural world. The dogs’ curious and engaging poses suggest that they are trying to communicate with the snowman, perhaps seeking some kind of understanding or connection with this strange and mysterious figure.

But let’s not forget about the butcher, the unsung hero of this painting. With its more muted and realistic appearance, the butcher serves as a foil to the imaginative and playful snowman. It represents the practical and rational side of human nature, a contrast to the creative and imaginative snowman.

So what does it all mean? Well, that’s for you to decide, dear reader. But one thing is certain: The Snowman and the Butcher is a true work of art that will leave you pondering its deeper meanings long after you’ve left the museum. And who knows, you might even find yourself quoting the great literary minds of the past as you try to unravel the mysteries of this painting. “To be or not to be, that is the question,” Shakespeare might say, as he gazes upon the snowman and the butcher. Or perhaps Dostoevsky would weigh in with a more philosophical take: “The snowman and the butcher, a tale of two sides of human nature.” Only time will tell.

Castles Get Kicked in the Bricks each Summer

Let’s face it: some backpacks just carry your stuff. This one tells your entire life philosophy in one ridiculous, multilingual joke. Imagine strolling into a museum, a bus stop, or your ex's new wedding—with a bag that declares, in ten languages, that castles are always the losers of summer.

Why? Because deep down, you know:

  • Tourists always win.
  • History has a sense of humor.
  • And you, my friend, are not carrying your lunch in just any nylon sack—you’re carrying it in a medieval meltdown on your shoulders.

This backpack says:

  • “I’ve been to four castles, hated three, and got kicked out of one for asking where the dragons were.”
  • “I appreciate heritage sites, but I also think they could use a bit more slapstick.”
  • “I’m cute, I’m moopish, and I will absolutely picnic on your parapet.”

It’s absurd.
It’s philosophical.
It holds snacks.

In short, it’s not just a backpack—it’s a mobile monument to glorious collapse.

And honestly? That’s what summer’s all about.

Philosophy thirts

Feeling surveilled? Alienated by modernity? Accidentally started explaining biopolitics at brunch again? Then it’s time to proudly declare your loyalties (and your exhaustion) with our iconic “I’m with Fuckold” shirt.

This tee is for those who’ve:

  • Said “power is everywhere” in a non-BDSM context.
  • Tried to explain Discipline and Punish to their cat.
  • Secretly suspect the panopticon is just their neighbour with binoculars.

Wearing this shirt is a cry of love, rebellion, and post-structural despair. It says:
“Yes, I’ve read Foucault. No, I will not be okay.”

Stay tuned for more philosophical shirts and backpacks, as we at Benders are working on an entire collection that will make even the ghost of Hegel raise an eyebrow.

Curious about the intersections between poetry, philosophy, and machine learning?

Explore a collection of notes, reflections, and provocations on how language shapes — and resists — intelligent systems like Grok

© 2025 Benders Poetry Gear – Notebooks, Backpacks and Tshirts | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme
Scroll Up