Shades of Monet

Magnet #260 - Monet's Japanese Footbridge...again

Yes, yes, I know. But, I have so many Monet magnets, I need to start sprinkling more often. I've been lax about my Kings and Queens of England series, as well.

Anyway, picked Monet's Japanese Footbridge, because I'm watching the last half of The Impressionists, the BBC movie about Monet and all his pals. It's so interesting to watch, the interplay between the artists, the background on famous works of art (which you guys know I love to see), and to see the lives that these men led.

The one thing that I learned about this enclave, was the explanation on why they often had the same, or similar subjects in the same locations. It never dawned on me that it was because they were traveling together, stopping to paint various scenes around the countryside.

Yeah, I know, that was probably Impressionists 101. I guess if I'm so interested in art, I should just take some sort of Art History survey course. Hmmm, maybe. For now, it's fun to learn via movies and docus, and books, and visiting the actual works of art...with the little audio guides. Always the audio guides.

But getting back to The Impressionists, it's also fun to see Richard Armitage playing Monet, but with really funny hair. Nah, I'm just sayin' that to poke my sister. Heh. But no. Richard really does have really funny hair in it.

eta:
Eeeep. And now there's a funny goatee! Hee.

Hmmm, I think a leisurely walk over to the Met might be the order of the day today.

Rainy midnight

Magnet #873 - Rainy Midnight

I think I need to do a full exploratory of American Impressionists - the more I see, the more I like of their work.

This magnet and this artist is no exception. Childe Hassam's Rainy Midnight was one of my favorite pieces from the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. And you can definitely see the touch of the Impressionists in his work - even if he wasn't part of their little circle of friends, he spent the late 1880s in Paris, and even exhibited at the Salons.


Hassam painted this in 1890, freshly back from Paris. I'm fairly sure that I like it because the beautiful blue-ish purplish color palette closely matches my favorite Monet that I magnetblogged about before. I think the subject matter also makes a difference - the only thing better than a snowy night/morning in New York City is a rainy one.

And, it's about 20 years off, but this scene is totally the Age of Innocence New York, which I love, love, love.

I mean, can't you just see May peering out of the carriage, looking for Newland, cuz she just found out about the affair with Countess Olenska and she's tracking him down in the middle of the night?

Wait? That didn't happen in your version of the book movie?

Salon du Joie

Magnet #261 - Monet's (one of many) Haystacks

Keeping up the Impressionists weekend theme.

I mentioned yesterday that I was finishing up the BBC's The Impressionists miniseries, and, funny-haired Richard Armitage or not, it totally made me want to see these works of art in person. It's amazing to go from room to room seeing painting after painting, and I know I'm incredibly lucky to be able to drop everything and run into the Met on a whim.

So, just like the boys had their own Salons to exhibit in, I give you a few of the results of my visit. (plus a couple out of school, but I like them anyway).

On Picasa
As a supercute France-related Photobucket slideshow

And a list of the paintings I included - you can find most of them on the Met's Works of Art Database.

Renoir: Tilla Durieux
Renoir: By the Seashore
Monet: Footbridge over Water Lillies
Cezanne Mont-Sainte-Victoire
Cezanne: Dish of Apples
Cezanne: Still Life with Apples and Pot of Primose
Cezanne: Seated Peasant
Monet: Houses of Parliament on a Foggy Morning
Monet: The Seine at Vétheuil
Cezanne: The Card Players
Cezanne: Madame Cezanne in Red Dress
Monet: The Manneporte (Étretat)
Cezanne: Bathers
Monet: Garden at Sainte-Adresse
Monet: Morning on the Seine at Giverny
Van Gogh: Olive Orchard
Manet: Boaters
Monet: Haystacks
Constable: Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop's Grounds
Degas: Dance Class
Monet: La Grenouillère
Cezanne: Mont-Sainte-Victoire and the Viaduct along the Arc River Valley
Manet: Monet Family in the Garden
Turner: Venice
Matisse: Nasturtiums with Painting "Dance"

So totally not the highest bidder

Magnet #980 - Matisse, Polynesia, the Sky

I honestly can't remember where I bought this, but it's so very pretty, and I know I haven't seen it in person before. Maybe in a sale pile at the MoMA store in Soho, I think. Great store, by the way. Dangerous, because of all the stuff I could buy in there.

Unlike all the stuff I could never buy at Sotheby's or Christie's auction houses. The New York Times did a great article yesterday about how one of the best things to do in the city, is to visit the auction previews at both houses.

I've visited Sotheby's a few times before, but not really for art, usually it's for the arts and entertainment auctions - like Grace Kelly's auction a few years ago, and a film one a few years before that. But, both Sotheby's and Christie's are doing Impressionists and Modern Art auctions next week. In anticipation, they put all the lots on view, so that people can visit them and figure out what they want to bid on. It's open to the public at this time as well. I mean, the "richy-richy people" (/tm my mom) have other private opportunities to view the art, but a lot of them come back to look, even if it means viewing with the hoi polloi like me.

Dudes. Today, I stood in front of a twenty million dollar painting today. By Monet. Unfinished. I could feel myself slowly backing away. Obviously, if I broke it, I wouldn't be able to afford it.

But, my heavens, it was amazing walking through gallery after gallery of paintings and sculptures and drawings. Masters of every kind were there. Just hanging out, with auction price tags on the placards. Holy smokes. The amounts on each tag could feed a small country, or ten. I can't wait to see what the results are next week!

Even more cool? Watching all the Sotheby's and Christie's employees walking wealthy patrons around to different works, as they scribbled on small notes of paper...you know, notes to say bid on this lot or that lot. You know, where in my little world, I mull over whether or not to buy this book, or that pretty paper, for a few bucks, these patrons are bidding millions. Millions!

Also? They can touch the art!!!! I nearly had a heart attack when I saw these two people touching a Rodin. Touching! It's like the number 1 rule in a museum, don't touch! And here these people were, running their hands over the smooth bronze surface...crazy. In another room, two men, were closely examining the Faberges - as if they were in a jewelry shop somewhere, "I'd like to see that (sixty thousand dollar) tea caddy, please." But I guess you can do that, if you're intent on buying it. Sheesh.

I won't lie, I saw so many Matisses, Picassos, Monets, Vuillards, Bonnards, Rodins, Faberges, Lichtensteins, Warhols and what nots that my eyes fairly glazed over by the end of my visits. The fantastic part was that they also included contemporary pieces from the period. The ones who aren't necessarily as well known, but have important work as well. The ones that aren't sitting over at the Met on Fifth, or the MoMA in midtown. Of course, I ended up buying a couple of the catalogues - I figure if I can't afford the art, at least I can buy the books.

There's a really big part of me that wants to go back to both places before the big auctions take place on Monday. Just to see the art before they go to their new owners.

One thing's for sure, there's a whole hidden world of private art collecting that I'm sure I've only scratched the surface of today.

Also for sure? These artists produced a helluva lot more than what's on our public museum walls.

After next week, they're going to be sitting in private art collections or residences. There's a part of me thinks that's a shame, that the world doesn't get to enjoy this art, but for these few preview days.

Then there's the other part of me wants to find these people and visit their houses so I can see what else is on their walls!

Modern isn't boring

Magnet #527 - Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884

Yay, I finally got to visit the Art Institute of Chicago!!

I loved every minute of it - even when we got lost and had to pass the same little elephant statue in the Asian art gallery four times. There was entirely too much to see in one day, let alone half a day. Though, detours and funny layouts made for a heck of a lot of walking around!

After reading so much about Renzo Piano's new Modern Wing, I was happy for the chance to check it out myself - yes, there's a separate magnet for that.

Dudes - most of what we saw today, I haven't seen in person - from Hockey's Collectors and Ruscha's City to Motley's Nightlife to architectural drawings by Louis H. Sullivan and Louis I. Kahn and Mies van der Rohe, and remants of reliefs and doors and windows saved or scavenged from various buildings around town. Good gravy, I could spend days there.

The AIC had a few Monet magnets that I've blogged on - the Artist's house at Argenteuil, and of course, different versions of his haystacks, and his Japanese footbridge at Giverny. But, they also had an extraordinary number of his paintings that I've never seen - ever. Which is just fantastic, if you've scoured the eastern hemisphere for all the magnets Monets you can possibly see.

The AIC collection also includes the final Sunday on La Grande Jatte that was submitted for the 1886 Impressionists Exhibition. I actually bought this magnet in NYC, because I've been visiting the piece at the Met for years. Of course, now I have to go read the back of the magnet, or pop on by the Met to verify, but, from what I can tell, the Met has one of the 50 studies he did for that final piece. Who knew?

Honestly, while I'm glad to have seen it here in town, I'm slightly annoyed that what we have at the Met is a study. (But then again, I also have issues with all the various Monet haystacks and lillies running around this giant Earth.)

Anyway, I've uploaded the unedited, somewhat haphazard (for now) FB album for the AIC and the supercool Millennium Park, sans any real captions yet.

Enjoy. Then, get your bums to the AIC and have a looksee for yourself. You won't be sorry.

Fruity displays of affection, or not, as the case may be

Magnet #499 - Caillebotte's Fruit Displayed on a Stand, 1881-82

Nice little still-life from Gustave Caillebotte, a wealthy Frenchmen who was friends with The Impressionists, but not necessarily a part of it, according to his bio.

So this painting's up in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, which I've been to, but honestly, I can't remember if I've seen this particular piece. I just remember going to the MFA to see their Monet show, and that's it. And yet, here's me with a magnet of it.

I just like it because I discovered something odd yesterday: I like strawberry ice cream better than actual strawberries.

Then I got to thinking about it...

• I don't like blueberries, except in muffins.
• I can't stand raspberries, but don't mind them in raspberry walnut salad dressing.
• I don't like cooked cherries or apples, but don't mind them as raw fruit.
• I can't stand pears, but don't mind it in candy form.
• I'm not a huge fan of peaches (cuz of the fuzz), but love them straight out of a cold can.
• I don't like cranberries, except as juice in my Tom Collinses.

See? I told you it was odd. And people wonder why I zip through the fresh market in Union Square every week. Heh.

Great. And now I'm craving fruit salad. Nooo, not that sad little mixed fruit in a cup that people consider "fruit salad." The real stuff, with a ton of fruit and a decadent cream cheese dressing, straight out of the fridge.

Mmmmmm. That's the stuff of real summer, right there.

Monet and Go Seek

Magnets #187a-l - Mini Monets

We all know by now that I'm a Monet fan. So much so, that Monet has his own little magnetboard exhibit at home. Here's my own little Monet mosaic, I suppose.

Many years ago, on a roadtrip out to Newport, RI, a friend and I did the Cliff Walk, and she took this picture of me. Ever since, it's been my most favoritest picture of me - ever. It's basically me, against the world.

Anyway, if you look at the second magnet in from the left on the bottom row, you'll see my most favoritest Monet - ever. It's Rocks at Pourville, Low Tide, 1882.

The two images look a little alike - the hazy little person at the center, and the waves crashing against the cliffy rocks. And I love the bluesy-purply color palette, not often found in Monet's work.

And so began my quest to see the painting in person. I had first seen this as part of an Impressionists screensaver, back when people were still downloading fun screensavers. (Remember Flying Toast?) I tried researching everywhere, contacting curators about it, and every so often, doing a generic Google search.

On a couple of leads, I had almost booked tickets to Birmingham, AL, and Maine to visit their art museums. Then, I became obsessed with what if it was in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. But to no avail.

After a while, my search lessened, and I happened to mention my silly Quest for the Monet Grail on a message board...and within minutes, a friend of mine was like, "Ummm, I just saw that painting a couple of months ago at the Rochester Museum of Art."

This whole time, the painting's been in my backyard!

And, so, off I went.

Et Voila!

Aga-what?

Magnet #937 - Monet's Agapanthus

This piece is currently on view at the MoMA, and is superpretty. Of course, it's superpretty, it's a Monet.

According to the MoMA description, this lily plant, Agapanthus, was part of Monet's famed Giverny gardens. Love that place.

Last week, I was pressed for why I love the Impressionists so much, and it was deduced that I love Impressionist work because it's softer and more romantic.

It's not cutting edge. It's not trying to make a whole lot of social statement. It's not trying to change the world. It's there to hang on a wall, look pretty and be admired.

I suppose that one could argue that the artists of the day were definitely cutting edge back then, that some of their work did stand as a social statement, and that they were trying to change the world. And it's only the passage of time that has rendered their avant-garde work part of the establishment.

One thing I have definitely been thinking about lately is whether or not I'm liking art for what it's trying to say, or for what it makes me feel. Whether or not I like art for the technique and skill behind the piece, or if my favorites are based on my favorite color palettes of blues and greens.

Eh. It's the same old story with me. I like what I like, and I try not to look too hard into why I like it.

After all, it's there to be hung up on a wall, look pretty, and be admired! Done!

To the brotherhood!

Magnet #1258 - Degas signature

This Degas signature is the first in a set of about 33 artists signature magnets. I know. Wait til you see tomorrow's 63 magnets set.

Anyway, I picked this for today because I finally finished watching the BBC's Desperate Romantics, all about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood of Millais, Hunt and Rossetti, and a few others, artists who banded together back in 1840s England. I could bore you with all the details of what they painted, and what they stood for, but that would defeat the purpose of watching this six-part miniseries.

The six-part miniseries that I thought DCSis had watched and liked, and therefore I felt like I had to sit through all six hours. Only to find out she barely made it through the first episode. Sigh. By the time I realized I didn't want to watch the rest of it...I was about five hours in. Goodness.

I definitely had to watch it, because I thought it'd be like the other BBC miniseries, The Impressionists, explaining the stories behind their famous works of art. Instead, I got Entourage, for artists...which is how they billed it. I don't mind Entourage at all, but honestly, I couldn't get into the backstabiness of these artists - true or not.

The best part of the movie was the one painting backstory that I really loved, that of Millais' Ophelia. In a magnificently cast role, the woman who posed for Ophelia, basically their Yoko (or Sloan) inadvertently causing strife between the boys, was superb and eerily a carbon copy for the real painting. If the series is to be believed, then while she was posing in a cold bathtub of water, she nearly drowned because of hypothermia and passing out in the water. Crazy.

The saddest part of the movie? Is watching how hard (or not hard) this band of brothers worked to make themselves known to the art world.

And in the end? Not a one was included in my magnet set of 35 artists.

White cliffs of Appledore

Magnet #1071 - Childe Hassam's The South Ledges

Oh, there's the ocean again. Because you know how much I love the beach.

There's an amazing collection of American Impressionists at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in DC, and I was superexcited when I saw they chose this one for a magnet.

Despite the beach theme, I love, love, love this Childe Hassam painting of The South Ledges in Appledore, Maine. Hassam and a bunch of his creative friends all used to hang out at poet Celia Thaxter's house there during the summers, so there's more than a few Appledore paintings in Hassam's body of work.

Part of why I'm so drawn to this painting is because it's such a gorgeous color combination of blues and whites. Obviously. And always.

I'm also drawn to how the lady, presumably a well-to-do New Englander, is perched against the rocks, lost in thought. Honestly, the painting also reminds me of my favorite picture of well, me...against the world.

And, of course, the other reason I love it is because if you're just walking by the piece in a gallery, at first glance it feels like it's a Monet. Subtle differences show that it's not, and with each Hassam that I see, I'm getting better and better at telling the difference.

Or, I'm just getting better at reading the placards.