Both the curator of the exhibition, Isabelle Julia, and Guy Cogeval, president of the Musee d'Orsay, were in attendance from Paris and presented the audience an overview of the collection set in the late-19th century France. This time was both fascinating and turbulent for France as it was involved in a period of social, economic and political change. It was this change which inspired French artists to take their inspirations from everyday life and experience. Modernity spread through the arts and formal portraits and landscapes were no longer convention. The drawings of the time captured honest depictions of daily life. A pure form of society in a much simpler time. Most importantly, the innovative and provocative works challenged the way women were presented as a movement away from the academic to the avant garde.
The exhibit runs until early September so I suggest you treat a dear friend to a nice afternoon "enjoying your leisure time" together.
The Dance of the Moulin Rouge, Toulouse-Lautrec
Portrait of the Countess Anna de Noailles
Anna led an active intellectual life having wrote
three novels, an autobiography, and many works of poetry.
Beach Scene - Boudin
Beyond the city, in the country and at new resorts.
Dance Class - Degas
Rehearsal scenes showing Degas' love for performance.
His ballerina images and sculptures alone total over 1,500 works.
Woman Drying Neck - Degas
Looking through the keyhole of women's lives the subjects
were in unconventional postures and unaware of the artist's gaze.
Her Hair
O fleece, that down the neck waves to the nape!
O curls! O perfume nonchalant and rare!
O ecstasy! To fill this alcove shape
With memories that in these tresses sleep,
I would shake them like penions in the air!
O curls! O perfume nonchalant and rare!
O ecstasy! To fill this alcove shape
With memories that in these tresses sleep,
I would shake them like penions in the air!
-Charles Baudelaire
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