Renoir to Chagall: The Allure of Color

Degas, DETAIL, Dancer Adjusting Her Shoe

     Kentucky has the good fortune to host an exhibit of French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists at The Speed Art Museum in Louisville. Part of this exhibit (55 paintings) comes from the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, TN.  I have enjoyed several exhibits at this Gallery when I lived in Memphis, so more than likely I have seen these paintings, but it has been years ago!  The remainder of the exhibit, nearly 30 more works, comes from the Speed's collection and from public and private collectors throughout the state.
     This exhibit seems to include works by every name one would associate with Impressionism.  The list of artists included in this show are Degas, Monet, Renoir, Cassatt, Matisse, Cezanne, Chagall, Pissarro, Cezanne, Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec and Braque. That is a major lineup and I'm excited to take in the show sometime next month.

Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1880-81

     Impressionism was a critical movement that changed the direction of Modern Art. It's characteristic short, visible brush stokes, use of color, emphasis on light, movement  and depictions of common daily life and landscapes were a far cry from the traditional realistic historical scenes and portraits with meticulous finishes where hardly any traces of brush stokes were visible.

     In an 1874 exhibition of the then new Impressionist style, the critics response was mixed but generally it was not readily accepted. Monet and Cezanne received harsh attacks from critic Louis Leroy.  Leroy gave the name Impressionist to the group of artists experimenting with this style of painting when he titled his newspaper article The Exhibition of the Impressionists. This was a kind of wordplay inspired by the title of Monet's painting, Impression, Sunrise. Leroy wrote that Monet's painting was at most, a sketch, and could hardly be termed a finished work. He wrote, "wallpaper in its embryonic state is more finished than that seascape."

Monet, Impression, Sunrise 1873

     I have always enjoyed the art of Mary Cassett, best known for her depictions of everyday scenes of mothers with children.  Below is her watercolor, La Toilette, a picture I have (unfortunately only in the form of a cheap reproduction), but nevertheless, I enjoy the calm serenity of it. 

Cassatt, La Toilette, 1891

 

     On the Speed Museum Facebook Page, they posted pictures of the Fed Ex truck delivering the collection to the museum as well as a shot of the paintings propped up against the wall, waiting to be hung.  I enjoyed seeing these "behind the scenes" so to speak, shots of the paintings arriving and a glimpse of how the museum looks while getting ready for the opening of a show.  I thought it added to the anticipation and excitement for the exhibit, or at least it did for me. The next time I see a big Fed Ex truck like this, I'm going to imagine that it is transporting something really interesting and wonderful, like French Impressionist paintings. 

The banners go up for Renoir to Chagall.

The crates full of paintings being unpacked and placed near the wall where they will be hung.

 Notice the Chagall propped us against the wall.  Wow!

Below is probably one of Marc Chagall's best known paintings, I and the Village.  This was done in 1911 and is exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art.

Admission to Renoir to Chagall: Paris and the Allure of Color is $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Children under 18 are admitted free to the exhibition with the purchase of an adult exhibition ticket. Ticket includes admission to museum’s permanent collection and Art Sparks, interactive gallery. Group packages are available by calling 502.634.2960.

The Speed is offering a variety of family and adult programs to help visitors better engage with Renoir to Chagall including tours, films, hands-on workshops and more. A complete listing of programs can be found here.

The  Speed Art Museum
2035 S. Third St.
Louisville, KY  40208
Wed,. Thur. & Sat. 10am to 5mp / Fri. - 10am to 9pm
Sun. - 12pm to 5pm / closed Mon. & Tue.

WENDELL BERRY

     Kentucky author Wendell Berry has been chosen to deliver the Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities. This will be the 41st year that the National Endowment for the Humanities has named a lecturer for the most prestigious honor the government bestows for distinguished intellectual achievement in the humanities. The lecture, "It All Turns on Affection," will discuss man’s interaction with nature, as depicted in history, philosophy, and literature.You can read more in this link to the press release from the National Endowment for the Humanities concerning  this lecture and a brief biography on Mr. Berry.