Thanks to all of you who took the time to pop in or send congratulations to me. :) very kind. Welcome too to the new followers of my blog, Blythe and Vali.
I am just back from a visit to Paris to see Picasso et les Maitres where DH and I went to celebrate our( gulp) 35th wedding anniversary. Seven or so years ago DH and I reached a compromise. I agreed to go visit Picasso's antiwar picture-La Guernica- while DH agreed to be dragged around the Prado. Since then we have both enjoyed going to art galleries together and I have , to my astonishment learnt to love Miro -later in Barcelona and DH fell in love with Fra' Angelica, Goya and Velasquez in the Prado. This time he suggested visiting the Picasso exhibition in Paris. This was Picasso's ( no and he is not my favourite artist either) take on the old masters. For example Picasso took Manet's Dejeuner Sur l'herbe ( the one with a naked lady sitting between two clothed men with another lady in the background bathing) and did his own thing, this included what were my favourite ,his lino cuts, but he also played around with the positioning of the figures and the colours to0. The main exhibition ( there are three) in the Grand Palais was fantastic and very well curated. The Musee D'orsay had the Manet and Picasso canvases inspired by it and the Louvre had Delecroix'sLes Femmes d'Algers which I did not know and Picasso's pictures of it, which in the Louvre looked quite astonishingly out of place but also very alive and vibrant too. Delacroix's three ladies of the harem in Turkish clothes and their servant made a lovely delicate and romantic picture which Picasso gave a sexual edge too. One of the women Picasso turned onto her back with her legs entwined in the air above her. I have no photos of these as they were not allowed although photos are otherwise allowed in the museums in Paris which is very intrusive. In the galleries showing all the impressionist at Musee D'orsay two women went point, click, point click around the whole lot without once apparently ever looking at a single picture. Why? What is the point? As for the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, well here you would not be able to see it properly for the number of people posing in front of it. I am so glad I saw it thirty years ago, although I thought it overrated. The Virgin of the Rocks is much better. However if you get a chance to see the Picasso exhibition do go as it make a stunning visit. Even if you are not a Picasso fan there are the old masters such as Manet, Rembrandt's, Velasquez, Murillo and more more more! Canvases have been brought from all over the world so giving a chance to see work never normally seen together outside books. And it is fascinating to see how an artist's mind works even if the end result is not your cup of tea. However his drawings and his Lino cuts and his still life's are quite quite fabulous. Go if you have a chance. Just writing about it make some realise how very lucky I was to be able to go. I wish I could show you some of the pictures of it.
1 week ago
Helen, I think for some people the whole point is to show off that you've been there:) I still remember vividly a japanese guy, who went on a tour across europe in 2 weeks! he ran around with the camera in front of his eye all the time, he must have tons of photos at home now, but I don't think he actually "saw" anything in real life! we went around Loch Ness and he was just clicking away (or maybe he was hoping that Nessie comes up just at the right moment?:)).
ReplyDeleteanyway, your trip sounds very interesting - you probably took in loads of impressions that will come up later for use in your own work?
I know people are showing off I suppose but it still baffles me! I can't work out why they should want to spend time on something they are not interested in or indeed to take photos. I can't quite connect to why someone feels it is important to be seen to be somewhere . I must have gene missing- the same one that fails to see the point of designer clothing.
ReplyDeleteI lack the same gene - I think that is common in crafters - or maybe that's why they became crafters in the first place? and I don't know why people want to show off like this - but it always reminds me of this series on tv, where "hyazinth bucket" wants to be royalty, but insists on not being a snob:)) of course, she overdoes it to get the point across - but I actually do know (very few) people who are a bit like her! it must be hard to show of like that, if you're on a budget:))and of course these people can only exist, when there are people around who admire whatever they try to show off!
ReplyDeleteCrafters-artisans are I think less concerned with the status quo and of course we go to see pictures because we have an artistic soul that longs to be satisfied! I am finding as the days go on that the colours and imaging are sinking down through my mind so something may come out the other end in my work. I have always loved the freedom and excitement of children's work and have also liked Picasso's comment that all his life he strove to paint like a child and I do know what he means about wanting to paint with that freedom and delight of the medium. And without the fear of " is that right" or "good".
ReplyDeleteMe and Poppy are feeling much better THANKS! Lou xx
ReplyDeletehello Helen...I've tagged you (having spotted you as an addition to the followers list)...details are over on my blog
ReplyDeletecheerio
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