When I was there I was pleasantly surprised by the wall text in the Gauguin room, so much so that I remember it over a year later, which was written as a sort of wry character study of a talented man undone by his own delusions rather than something that hectored the viewer for daring to enjoy the paintings. So hopefully the curators aren't as dour as all that.
I also eavesdropped on a tour group discussing Portrait of Ross in LA and hearing the communal reactions from people of different ages, backgrounds, etc was really wonderful -- democracy and discussion in action.
And i totally agree on the final point, in fact my notes from the time actually complain that the haystacks are a little much. Let one go and keep it open til 8!
yes for me the problem with these two is that their lives are just so sad, give me the untroubled Impressionists any day. it would be a scandal to sell a painting for operations but really something needs to be done!
I finally had some time to read the rest of the review. Great fun.
I love that huge Caillebotte & almost all of his paintings. Too bad about the missing Monet. Maybe paintings should be rotated if they all can't go up on the walls at once. I love the Cecco (you didn't use his nickname but I suspected that huge painting was his when I saw it). Yes, a bad call by the Met if they declined it.
I agree about the hours. The HSA is like that right now, but that's not on the scale of the Art Institute.
I didn't have time to see too much when I was there in September because my interest was the Remedios Varo exhibit & a visit to the prints & drawings room. So I focused on the paintings.
You might want to see about writing for Hyperallergic. You could make some money.
When I was there I was pleasantly surprised by the wall text in the Gauguin room, so much so that I remember it over a year later, which was written as a sort of wry character study of a talented man undone by his own delusions rather than something that hectored the viewer for daring to enjoy the paintings. So hopefully the curators aren't as dour as all that.
I also eavesdropped on a tour group discussing Portrait of Ross in LA and hearing the communal reactions from people of different ages, backgrounds, etc was really wonderful -- democracy and discussion in action.
And i totally agree on the final point, in fact my notes from the time actually complain that the haystacks are a little much. Let one go and keep it open til 8!
yes for me the problem with these two is that their lives are just so sad, give me the untroubled Impressionists any day. it would be a scandal to sell a painting for operations but really something needs to be done!
You're a great writer, Thomas.
I finally had some time to read the rest of the review. Great fun.
I love that huge Caillebotte & almost all of his paintings. Too bad about the missing Monet. Maybe paintings should be rotated if they all can't go up on the walls at once. I love the Cecco (you didn't use his nickname but I suspected that huge painting was his when I saw it). Yes, a bad call by the Met if they declined it.
I agree about the hours. The HSA is like that right now, but that's not on the scale of the Art Institute.
I didn't have time to see too much when I was there in September because my interest was the Remedios Varo exhibit & a visit to the prints & drawings room. So I focused on the paintings.
You might want to see about writing for Hyperallergic. You could make some money.
My friend writes for them.
I look forward to your next review.
:>)
thank you! and ha, yes, I decided the Cecco name would require too much explanation so left it out. look out for Hartford which is up next…