X is for

these prints left by my YaktraX , traction devices, that I wear over my sneakers to walk outside in the snow. Recommended by my friend Caroline who runs year round, these kept me fearlessly and safely out-of-doors for a lot longer.

Also, since finding photos of X is so hard (!) I'm adding a bit of art history to fill in my post with a painting by John Singer Sargent called Madam X

He painted this large (height: 7 ft.) portrait of a noted French socialite in 1884 and though it was it personal favorite, he subsequently received much criticism for its 'seductive' qualities. Hw later sold it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Click on this site to see many additional studies he made in graphite and watercolor of his subject like the one below before painting the famous one above.

Alas, my feeble attempt for ABC Wednesday's letter X. To see more x-es or join in the fun, see Mrs Nesbitt's blog where you will be roundly welcomed!