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Tag Archives: Art Institute of Chicago

Urban Scene

23 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

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Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Gustave Caillebotte, oil painting, Paris Street;Rainy Day

When I first entered this particular gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago, the large painting across from the entrance made me smile. And then I sat down on the bench across from it to contemplate the gorgeous urban scene. The rainy day vista was a snapshot of a Paris long gone. And it was beautiful.

Image 1The museum had just finished a major restoration and cleaning of Paris Street; Rainy Day by the French artist Gustave Caillebotte. One of Caillebotte’s best known works, the 1877 painting depicts what was then known as Carrefour de Moscou, a road east of the Gare Saint-Lazare in north Paris, now called Place de Dublin.

Image 13When you first walk in to the room, the painting immediately grabs your attention.  The blue-gray walls push it off the wall, and you feel like you could actually enter the boulevard itself with madam and monsieur.

I used a lavender pink underlay to set the cool, soothing tones of the rainy streets before putting the strong, deeper blue layer on top.

IMG_1604I was afraid that when I put the actual blue-gray color of the gallery walls in, it would overwhelm the painting and the figures.

Image 1But, as is the case in the actual room, it works. And the cool underlying tones do push  through and the blue on the walls draws out the figures and their umbrellas in the painting.

Image 19I sat across from this picture for a long time, watching the people come into the room.  Like me, they were immediately snapped to attention by the charismatic figures on the Parisian street.

I loved these two women looking at the work, possibly a mother and daughter.  One is lining up her photos, while the other leans in to stare at the painting.

Image 2Their detachment from each other mirrors the isolation of the figures on the Paris street.  They seem to be together, and yet each is in their own world.

Maybe things have not changed so much.

“Urban Scene” oil on linen, 30 x 24″

The Art Institute of Chicago

14 Saturday Jun 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings

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Art Institute of Chicago

I’ve decided I am most definitely an urban animal.

After weeks of glorious nature as we travelled west through the most spectacular scenery known to man, I am in Chicago and in love with this big city. I go to a large Metropolis, and I feel like I am home again.

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Even though I have not been back in Chicago in decades, I felt comfortable and right at home.

We’ve done all the traditional tourist things, but yesterday I left My Beloved Brit to fend for himself walking along the lakeside marinas and spent literally an entire day at the stellar Art Institute of Chicago.

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Looking out from the Modern Wing of The Art Institute of Chicago

Not only is it a magnificent setting along the shores of Lake Michigan on the edge of Millennium Park…

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surrounded by beautiful gardens, architecture and monumental sculptures…

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But inside, it is grand and intimate at the same time.

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There are two sections to the museum.  I attacked the Modern Wing first and spent most of the morning observing the art, and of course with my interest in my own recent museum series of paintings, also observing the art lovers observing the art.

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This Modern Wing is not huge by New York standards, but the contemporary collection is wonderful.

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Pablo Picasso, Mother and Child

I saw works of Matisse that I was not even familiar with…and some that had been favorites of mine for my entire art-conscious life.

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Henri Matisse, Bathers by a River

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Henri Matisse, The Geranium

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Henri Matisse, Lorette with Cup of Coffee

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Henri Matisse, Woman before an Aquarium

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Henri Matisse, Apples

I stood before a David Hockney piece that I always thought was of modest size.  It is 83 7/8 x 120 inches and dominates the gallery. The detail that disappears in reproductions was exquisite.

David Hockney, American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman)

David Hockney, American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman)

detail

detail

There were so many favorites, from Alex Katz to Cy Twombly to Richter …

Alex Katz, Vincent and Tony

Alex Katz, Vincent and Tony

Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter, Mrs. Wolleh with children

I took the time to visit an exhibit of the Lower Level that a friend and Chicago resident mentioned to me as a must see.  The Thorne Miniature Rooms by Mrs. James Ward Thorne (of Montgomery Ward fame) were amazing in their scope.  There were dozens of them, each done with the most exquisite attention to detail.  Such variety of period and social order.  They were truly enchanting.  You could spend a day just viewing these.

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Finally after a short lunch break back on the streets of Chicago with MBB, I re-entered to the older classical wing, and headed for the Impressionist section.  I had recently read in the newspaper that they had just finished cleaning this striking canvas.

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Caillebotte, Paris Street; Rainy Day

It was bright and stunning, well worth the six month restoration effort. Turning a corner and going through a few more galleries I was in awe once again.

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Georges Seurat, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte

There were smaller gems I was not even aware of, like a Munch painting that was delicate and ethereal.  It almost looked like pastels, but it was done in oils.

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Edvard Munch, The Girl by the Window

That is the beauty of a museum you are not familiar with.  Around every corner is a stunning surprise.  Hopefully I will be back again to meet up with them as old friends.

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John Philip Simpson, The Captive Slave

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