Cultural Experience - Paris Exhibit - Part 2

The first post in this 3-part series dealt with paintings of streetscapes, cityscapes and landscapes. People will be the subject matter in this second part. I am still sharing just paintings; the final part of my little foray into artistic analysis will include sculpture, jewelry, clothing, pottery furniture and a variety of miscellany.

I will repeat here what I said in part 1: If you are here to see quilting pictures and read quilt-talk, I will not be covering anything of the sort in this post. I'm offering up some bona fide culture today. (You can bail now, if you like.)

Detail from Intimacy or Mender at the Window (1903) ~ Maurice Denis (1870-1943)  The artist "captures a moment of quiet happiness;" his wife sews while his two daughters play dominos and through the window a servant works in the garden.

A Tear for a Drop of Water (1903) by Luc-Olivier Merson (1846-1920) In this oil on canvas, the painter depicts a key episode from Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris. Quasimodo is in the pillory before a raucous crowd when the gypsy Esmeralda takes pity on him and offers him some water.

The Seller of Songs (1903) by Victor Gilbert (1847-1935) No narrative for this was offered, but I was struck by the wonderful play of light on the subjects and the joy on the faces.

Portrait of Andre Rivoire (1901) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) While Toulouse-Lautrec is well known for his depictions of bohemian nightlife, he was also an accomplished portraitist. He was a good friend of poet and playwright Andre Rivoire.

Portrait of Auguste Rodin (1881) ~ by Francois Flameng (1856-1923).

Ophelia (1894) by Paul Steck (1866-1924) I was immediately struck by the sorrow evoked in this painting; then I recognized it as the drowning of Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet. The accompanying detail explains that Steck "depicts the scene in art nouveau style. Rather than focusing on the horror of her death, he lingers on the young woman's serpentine shape, which echoes the vegetation surrounding her."

On the Boulevards (circa 1895) (top) and At the Champs-Elysees (1894) both by Louis Abel-Truchet (1857-1918) ~ From the details for the top painting: "...two Parisian women strolling one of the Grands Boulevards, favorite destinations for nineteenth-century residents and visitors wishing to take promenades or seek entertainment. The women hardly seem to notice the gloomy winter weather as they walk and talk, carefully lifting their skirts to keep them from getting soiled by the street - a skill that supposedly only Parisian women could master to perfection."

Details from the description for the second painting explain that Abel-Truchet was a master of the urban landscape. Here he depicts much in a single painting - a child in the foreground with three women watching him; a girl behind them running after a hoop; then behind her a row of trees that nearly obscures the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysees that gives the painting its title. (Click on the picture to enlarge for a closer look.)

Linen Sale (1898) by Henry Thiriet (1873-1946) ~ This is a color lithograph poster with a subject matter that, as a quilter, I find interesting.

Alphonsine's "Charlotte" (1905) by Leon-Francois Comerre (1850-1916) ~ Alphonsine was a well-established milliner who commissioned Comerre to paint this for the purpose of promoting her newest hat called the "Charlotte." The model in the painting is the artist's 15-year-old daughter.

After the Races at Auteuil (1893) by Alfred Smith (1854-1936) ~ From the description "Horse races were among the Parisian elite's favorite pastimes, providing opportunities for wealthy ladies to don their finest brightly colored summer clothes, which stood out against the darker shades worn by the men."

Portrait of Madame Rene Prejelan (1903) by Antonio de La Gandara (1861-1917) ~ The subject of this painting is the wife of painter and illustrator Rene Prejelan. The artist "focuses on her large feathered hat, a fashionable accessory around 1900. The revealing neckline of her long ball gown shows off the curve of her shoulders, and her S-shaped silhouette exemplifies the style of the period - a corset attenuates her waist, rounds her hips and emphasizes her bust."

Whew! One more installment of this little (?) exhibit. I got tired while putting this post together; I hope you haven't grown tired as well!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Cultural Experience - Paris Exhibit - Part 1

If you are here to see quilting pictures and read quilt-talk, I will not be covering anything of the sort today. I'm offering up some bona fide culture today. (You can bail out now, if you like.)

About two weeks ago, I joined the ladies in our book club for an outing to the Cincinnati Art Museum as a special exhibit called "Paris 1900" opened. It is a magnificent show, and I definitely would go again. The pieces selected for this exhibit include some of the most famous artists of the day as well as depictions of various aspects of Parisian life at or near the turn of the 20th century.

I took some photos of particular pieces that caught my eye, and have whittled the number down to share here. I will add details when I know them. Some of my pictures are less than stellar, but you will get a thorough flavor of the show. Let me add that the exhibit is huge, so my few pictures here leave many fantastic pieces out. Some were hard to capture on camera because of lighting or crowds or reflections. I know there were several I wanted to photograph, but I just could not get a proper picture that did justice to the piece.

Because I took so many pictures, my plan is to divide the material into parts. Today's part consists of paintings of both cityscapes and landscapes. Occasionally people appear, but largely, the focus is on the location. I suspect that clicking on the pictures will help to get a clearer, closer look at the details in each piece.

An Evening at Le Pre' Catelan (1909) by Henri Gervex (1852-1929) ~ This was the first picture I saw as I entered the exhibit. It is massive in size, and the way the painter created the shimmering lights of the famous restaurant is, as the description says, "particularly seductive." When standing close to it, I was able to study the striking beauty of the street and building, the stunning dresses, hairstyles, flowers, decorations - all in all it is quite sumptuous.

The Pont Royal and the Pavillon de Flore (1903) by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) ~ Impressionist paintings like this are what I think of when I think of French artists. This was done in the last year of Pissarro's life. The description points out the "focus on the effects of light and water."

Fine Weather at Pern (Ushant Island) (1901) by Henry Moret (1856-1013) ~ Again, I was taken with how the artist depicts light; the description focused on how the artist painted alongside Paul Gauguin and other young artists in Brittany/Pont Aven.

Fall in Honfleur (1906) by Othon Friesz (1879-1949) ~ This painting shows the ever more radical use of color and abstraction by young artists. Apparently there was a break from the traditionalists who were "offended by the lively palettes and free brushwork" of artists such as Matisse and Derain. Critics called these artists "les fauves (the wild beasts)."

The Promenade (1897) by Henri-Edmond Cross (1856-1910) ~ Nothing was noted on the description other than this is a color lithograph. I was captivated by the manipulation of brushstrokes and how they were applied to create the various elements in the painting. I suppose 'promenade' could refer to the boats, the trees, or the women - or perhaps all three.

The Statue of Liberty by Bartholdi in the Workshop of the Gaget Foundry, Rue de Chazelles (1884) by Victor Dargaud (1850-1921) ~ I was fascinated by this painting when I recognized the subject and then when I read the description, I was further intrigued. Here are some highlights "...the foundry rented a large plot of land near its Parisian workshop to assemble this extraordinary statue, mounting thousands of copper sheets to a metal armature designed by Gustave Eiffel...When the Statue of Liberty was completed, throngs of people came to see it before it was disassembled and shipped to New York." The people pictured in the foreground are all gazing up at the imposing statue.

The Grande Palais and the Petit Palais Under Construction (1899) by Georges Souillet (1861-1957) ~ The two buildings under construction here were built for the International  Exposition of 1900. This painting depicts the right bank of the Seine, near the Champs-Elysees and opposite the Esplanade de Invalides. If and when I ever return to Paris, I will be sure to observe this spot - hopefully from the location of this view - to see what it looks like today.

Pont Alexandre III (1917) by Auguste Leroux (1871-1954) ~ Since there is so much to note in this piece, I'm just going to share practically the entire description. "The bridge that connected the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais to the Esplanade des Invalides was built for the 1900 International Exposition. It commemorated the recent alliance between France and Russia and was named after Czar Alexander III...With a single steel arch spanning more than 350 feet, the bridge was an extraordinary technological achievement. Its rich sculptural decoration was particularly well received. This view from the right bank shows the two Renommes (allegorical figures of Fame) by the sculptor Emmanuel Fremiet atop the pylons on either side of the bridge. The silhouette of the Eiffel Tower is visible in the background.

La Place Clichy (1896) by Edmond Grandjean (1844-1908) ~ The exhibit was categorized to help viewers understand the significance of both the time period and the individual pieces. This painting appeared in a section devoted to transportation, and with that in mind, onlookers can see all the common methods at the turn of the 20th century. The description explained that the first subway line opened for the International Exposition in July of 1900. This painting "depicts a Parisian woman confidently riding a bicycle through the traffic of pedestrians, carriages and omnibuses."

Nighttime Festivities at the International Exposition of 1889, Under the Eiffel Tower (1889) by George Roux (1855-1929) ~ This description was full of interesting history. "The International Exposition of 1889, planned to mark the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution, celebrated progress in science and technology. A tower that was nearly one thousand feet tall, built by the architect Gustave Eiffel, was the centerpiece of the Exposition. Here, the painter and illustrator George Roux shows a crowd assembled beneath the tower to view the illuminated fountains along the Champ-de-Mars. The central dome of the Exposition and the roof of the Palais de Machines are clearly visible in the background. Unlike the Eiffel Tower, which would remain in Paris and become its preeminent symbol, the dome and the palace were demolished soon after the Exposition."

Enough for today. In a day or two, I will share paintings in which the subjects are people. After that, I will group all the dimensional art - sculptures, pottery, jewelry, furniture, clothing, and miscellaneous ephemera.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Hello, Lucerne, Switzerland!

Today we are boarding the high-speed TGV train from Paris to Lucerne! We have always wanted to ride a high-speed, especially my husband, so this will be a definitely awesome "first" for us! According to the literature, this train travels up to 200 mph, the world record! There are 4 levels of tickets, from economy to premier, and I will just assume that our tickets are of the economy variety, since we are part of a tour - keeping prices affordable is key!

We are in Lucerne for just the one night, but in the time we are here, we are scheduled to see Kapellabruecke, the Lion Monument, and an evening dinner theater which features folk music, yodeling, alpenhorn blowing, flag throwing and dancers in original Swiss costumes. Can't wait!

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

Tomorrow DD Emma, DH Kevin and I will load up the suitcases and hit the road early for Port Columbus International Airport, take a short jaunt to Cincinnati, and then a l o o o o o n n n g g flight to Paris!! We have been planning this trip for over a year. Emma's friend Olivia is along, as well, and we are traveling with 2 adults and 2 students from my former place of employment, Chillicothe HS. One of those adults is my dear friend Sharon, a fellow English teacher and avid quilter! We have been friends for almost 30 years, and have traveled together many times.

It goes without saying that I won't be quilting in the next 12 days. I do, however, travel with some stitching. This the perfect traveling project, so very compact, easily stashed into a carry-on bag ... yo-yos!!

I will cut a ga-zillion circles (using the butter-tub lid for a template) and just take the circles, thread, needle and nail-clippers to cut thread. (I've had too many pairs of small scissors taken in airports as security threats!!!)

We stay in Paris for 3 days/2 nights, and will see the main attractions: Place de l'Opera, Champs-Elysees, Eiffel Tower, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. One really cool extra that we signed on for was an evening boat ride on the River Seine, ending with a trip up the Eiffel Tower to see the city by night! Won't that be incredible?

 I'm scheduling several posts to appear while we are gone. We get home on the 20th, but I expect I'll be jet-lagged, so real-time posting might not happen too soon.

Au revoir!

PS: By the time I'm back I believe I will have surpassed the 100th post on my blog! Whoo-hoo! I will be thinking of a little giveaway to offer as a way of celebrating. Sound good?