Love your writing so much. The way you describe works by Bronzino and Salviati is wonderful - sends me racing to google image. There's an exhibition of some Frankenthaler paintings on at the Gagosian in London atm... I didn't know her work at all but I was happy to be introduced to it. I veritably BATHED in the orange of 'Sphinx' and loved 'Square Figure', too.
Your description of the room with Frankenthaler, the Pollocks and Franz Kline made me smile so big. I walked through the room with you and stared at each painting in my mind (thank you); and yes, the Franz Kline pieces are so good for all the reasons you state. Favorites :)
Dutch masters are worth checking out. After seeing that exhibit, I bought a big fat book on the Dutch golden age that I swear I am going to read. Also, when you head back to the Met, hit up the rooftop exhibit (if you can find Medusa's dangling head, you can find the rooftop elevator). I'm sure you know this, but every year is a new sculpture...this years' is pretty cool in a melancholy kind of way (Alex Da Corte, As Long as the Sun Lasts). Plus, the view...Lastly, great piece in the book review yesterday. I've never read any of her work, and I feel I should maybe give it a try? After the Dutch Masters tome.
I know. I recognize how exquisite some of this European art is, but then I also sometimes look at how intricate the work is (especially when it comes to clothing and jewelry and furniture and musical instruments and other objects only the wealthy could own), and understand how many people's lives had to revolve around making them, or be sacrificed to make their manufacture possible, and what the powerful people had to do to other people in the world in order to have them made. I have to grieve and thank all those people whenever I appreciate these objects.
I mean, damn. This post is stunning.
Love your writing so much. The way you describe works by Bronzino and Salviati is wonderful - sends me racing to google image. There's an exhibition of some Frankenthaler paintings on at the Gagosian in London atm... I didn't know her work at all but I was happy to be introduced to it. I veritably BATHED in the orange of 'Sphinx' and loved 'Square Figure', too.
!!! So glad to hear it. She’s soooooo good. Look for Lee Krasner and Joan Mitchell too!!
great story
Your description of the room with Frankenthaler, the Pollocks and Franz Kline made me smile so big. I walked through the room with you and stared at each painting in my mind (thank you); and yes, the Franz Kline pieces are so good for all the reasons you state. Favorites :)
Dutch masters are worth checking out. After seeing that exhibit, I bought a big fat book on the Dutch golden age that I swear I am going to read. Also, when you head back to the Met, hit up the rooftop exhibit (if you can find Medusa's dangling head, you can find the rooftop elevator). I'm sure you know this, but every year is a new sculpture...this years' is pretty cool in a melancholy kind of way (Alex Da Corte, As Long as the Sun Lasts). Plus, the view...Lastly, great piece in the book review yesterday. I've never read any of her work, and I feel I should maybe give it a try? After the Dutch Masters tome.
Very nice piece. “White people truly be on one.” They truly be tripping, right! I love that line. I’m am old white guy. It’s so true. Made my day.
I know. I recognize how exquisite some of this European art is, but then I also sometimes look at how intricate the work is (especially when it comes to clothing and jewelry and furniture and musical instruments and other objects only the wealthy could own), and understand how many people's lives had to revolve around making them, or be sacrificed to make their manufacture possible, and what the powerful people had to do to other people in the world in order to have them made. I have to grieve and thank all those people whenever I appreciate these objects.
I just wanna say this about stuff in museums: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-09/mwazulu-diyabanza-taking-africa-looted-treasures-france-museums/100441386?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
Thanks for the link to a fascinating piece. As Faulkner said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
(taking stuff back)
The Dutch masters exhibit was fantastic. I went just to see it and it was well worth the trip.