Tuesday, February 22, 2011

House No. 53: Orri

House No. 53: Orri
ink, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper, digital layout
8.5 in. x 11 in.
053/365; 02/22/11

During the summer months in the Ariège region of France, shepherds in the Pyrénées mountains would practice transhumance, the leading of livestock to the high mountains, or estives, to support their herds on the pastures. While in the estives, the shepherds camped in stone cabins called orris.

The orris were built by hand without mortar and were generally furnished only with a bench for sleeping. It is amazing how long these huts have lasted in the Pyrénées. Many are still standing today.

I think that orris must have been Peyo's inspiration for les maisons des Schtroumpfsn'est-ce pas?

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