No social distancing; no masks required! Except for the fashions, this could be a modern club scene today–much to the chagrin of the CDC! Renoir was one Impressionist who often turned to Paris nightlife for his subjects, such as this one in the Montmartre District: La Moulin de la Galette. Travel Tip: The Montmartre area of Paris has much to offer–Food, art, architecture, entertainment, ambiance–but be wary of the time of day/night that you visit!
Category Archives: Famous Art
Golden Autumn! Golden Art! (Klimt)
Golden Autumn! Golden Art! Much like the golden colors carpeting our Minnesota lawns and landscapes this time of year, Gustaf Klimt shares the blazing reds, ambers and golds to remind us of autumn. His “Birch Trees,” though void of people, share the luminous golds present in his more famous oil paintings: “The Kiss” and “Woman in Gold” with its colorful history, having been stolen by the Nazis in 1941 and on which the 2015 film was based
Autumn Harvest in Art (Millet & Van Gogh)
Autumn equates harvest. Millet, with peasant origins, identified with the hard work of the country poor. Van Gogh paraphrased it in his work. These oil paintings depict 3 peasant women tediously gleaning a field of stray stalks of wheat left over after the harvest. Both are at the Musee d’Orsay, Paris.
Sunflowers – in Art & Life (Van Gogh & O’Keeffe)
Sunflowers seem to be exceptionally huge this year, at least in Minnesota and Wisconsin! Sunflowers are not really a subject worth of deep thoughts–they are just bright and make us smile! Van Gogh and O’Keeffe both have great renditions of sunflowers!
Colors of Autumn–& Cataracts – in Art & Life! (Monet & My Grandma)
Famous Art for the Pandemic – & Life Update 03 July 2025: This post was initially published during the 2020/2021 COVID pandemic. As an art history professor, world traveler and lover of great art and art museums, I set out to connect famous art with what was going on in the world around us. FirstContinue reading “Colors of Autumn–& Cataracts – in Art & Life! (Monet & My Grandma)”
Four Seasons – in Art & Life (Arcimboldo)
This time of year we are once again keenly aware of the changing seasons. Italian painter, Arcimboldo, was known for creating imaginative portrait heads of produce such as in his series “Four Seasons” Spring is my favorite! Read more on my blog to Celebrate the 1st day of Spring!
Time – and the Calendar – in Art & Life (Limbourgh Bros’ Book of Hours)
The “Book of Hours of the Duke of Berry…” by the Limbourgh brothers, Gothic France (1400s) was selected because it represents TIME. This week 26 (01 September 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic marks 1/2 of a 52 week year. A Book of Hours was a popular type of devotional pray book with text for each liturgical hour of the day, plus calendar, prayers psalms and masses. It also included the astrological signs appropriate for each of the 12 months.
Masks Required – in Art & Life (Ensor)
Masks: to protect us–to hide our true identity–to present an image? The artist’s message in this painting is an indictment of immorality of modern life in 1889. I would add that indictment is also for 2020. (James Ensor “Christ’s Entry into Brussels in 1899”)
The Thinker. . . and the Start of School! Art & Life (Rodin)
As we approach another school year (September 2020), Rodin’s famous sculpture “The Thinker” comes to mind to symbolize what one should be doing in school! But…did you know that there is more than one “The Thinker?” And in different sizes? And out of different materials? After you read my post, you can feel a bit more culturally literate on this iconic sculpture!
Social Distancing in Art: Paris style! (Seurat)
Social Distancing: Paris style! As we Minnesotans enjoy our 10,000+ lakes and rivers during the summer, trying to social distance, this painting came to mind! These Parisians, in little clusters on the River Seine on a “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” are using perfect social distancing, although I doubt that is what the artist intended!
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