ArtCorner

In 2005, viewers had the opportunity to experience Van Gogh works from the Kröller-Müller Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. The Kröller-Müller Museum is pairing with the Van Gogh Museum for a second time to showcase the artist’s works in three locations in Japan from 2010-2011.

The exhibition will show in the following three locations in Japan:

01.10.2010/20.12.2010 Tokyo The National Art Center
01.01.2011/13.02.2011 Fukuoka Kyusyu National Museum
22.02.2011/10.04.2011 Nagoya Nagoya City Art Museum

Radiography, infrared reflectography, pigment analysis, and other methods of research will reveal a more in-depth look at Van Gogh’s process. Van Gogh’s works are characterized by strong use of line, muted and vivid palette colors, swirling strokes, and somewhat distorted perspectives inside seemingly fantastical works of art. Though perhaps viewed as fantastical as a post-impressionist, Van Gogh also relied on realism.

Van Gogh’s Influences

Van Gogh will not show alone. Many works of the artist’s contemporaries and predecessors will be shown alongside Van Gogh in the tour. Viewers will have the opportunity to see works that directly influenced Van Gogh, (Rembrandt and Rubens) while getting to know the works of his contemporary painters (Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Signac, Emile Bernard and Paul Gauguin). Van Gogh worked at Cormon’s studio for months, where he met students who would also become renowned contemporaries. Neo-Impressionism also made its debut around the time that Van Gogh became a serious practicing artist, having not taken up painting until his late twenties.

The show will provide a rare opportunity to study Van Gogh’s work in-depth and, alone, is worth the trip to Japan

It’s a big season for Picasso in the northeast. MoMA has a show, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is doing a Picasso & Friends show. Later this spring the Metropolitan Museum of Art will exhibit 300 of its Picassos…

The Guggenheim is also taking part in the Picassopalooza by showing two great still-lifes as part of a seventh-floor collection portraying the importance of Picasso on the Modern Art World.

For some reason Picasso is back as the most popular artist of the past century. Picasso’s popularity is on the rise a trend that just does not seem to fade.

The Reina Sofia Museum, as I covered last time, is the home of Spain’s Modern Art masterpieces. The experience at the Reina Sofia is a majestic walk through the great works of the Spanish Modernist — from Salvador Dali to Juan Miro. As you marvel at the illuminating creations you cannot avoid the glaring evidence of the massive effect of the Spanish masters on the modern art movement.

With that said, there is one Spanish artist who has set the tone for 20th century evolution of Modern Art, you guessed it… that artist is Pablo Picasso.

Even though Pablo Picasso is a Spanish native, his works were banned from the country throughout the rain of Generalisimo Franco. The artists’ public rejection of Franco made him unwelcomed by the tyrant in his own native country.

This prelude makes the story of the Guernica oil painting at the Sofia, Madrid an extra special one.

The Guernica is probably Picassos’ most famous creation. Not an easy task as his works of art have been grasping the highest average dollar value for the past 20 years.

Guernica is a depiction of the bombing of Guernica, Spain, by German and Italian warplanes at the height of the Spanish Civil War on April 26, 1937. My mother used to call it the grand rehearsal to the Second World War.

The Spanish Republican government commissioned Pablo Picasso to create a large mural for the Spanish display at the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris. Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians.

As you walk through the Reyna Sofia, just as you are about to enter the Guernica hall, you get the feeling that you are about to encounter greatness… similar to the feeling you get as you enter the Sistine chapel, there are only a handful of artistic creations that inspire the same emotions. The Guernica at the Rheina Sofia is one such display.
When you set yourself in front of the display it takes many minutes to stare at it. You can probably spend an hour just staring at it and probably an entire semester analyzing this masterpiece in an art or history class.

The Sofia holds a room adjacent to the Guernica that holds famous paintings and sculptures relating to the Spanish Civil War including preliminary sketches of various parts of the Guernica.

This huge oil painting which was originally inspired by a newspaper clip, has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. The symbolism is abundant in every stroke and it is an important engagement I recommend to any Madrid visitor.

In conclusion, the Guernica will forever remain Picasso’s greatest work. As the years go by the importance of the message it delivers to the world just gets more and more important and relevant.

As indicated in my last post from my visit to the Prado, Madrid is an absolutely breathtaking city, with flavors, history, style and a dash of daring do atmosphere.




After my disappointing visit to the Museo del Prado, I was hesitant to continue on with my museum tour and instead focus on drinking Mojitos and enjoying the many Flamenco shows and restaurants this beautiful city has to offer… after all they don’t even let me take photos of the art in the museum!?



But the next museum on my list was an absolute must. The National Museum “Centro de Arte Reina Sofía” or as the Madridians like to call it “la Sofia”, is Spain’s most important Museum of 20th century art and considered one of the most important contemporary art museums in the world.



This gem of a museum actually resides in an unassuming 18th century hospital building which was converted into a museum in 1992. When you are making your way on the metro over to the Sofia, don’t be shy and ask where it is because as important a landmark it might be for us art lovers, it is actually well hidden from the untrained touristy eye.



The old and relatively bland building (very uncharacteristic to the city of Madrid) has an outer elevator system which gives the place a unique look that sets it apart from the other buildings surrounding it.



Immediately as I walked in to the museum I felt that I came to the right place. 2000+ works of art adorn the walls of the Sofia, with the great Surrealist styles of Salvador Dali, Juan Miro and Pablo Picasso being the focus of this beautiful spectacle of modern art. And to top it all off taking pictures with a camera is allowed (excluding flash..)



I made my way through the corridors and rooms and at almost every painting I felt emotions of sheer admiration as these are the works of the greatest artists ever. It is hard to explain what happens when you come face to face with a Dali painting, but it definitely throws you off. You can be grasped by terror, disgust and even a mad laugh all at the same time.







The Juan Miro oil paintings that are in almost every corner give the museum a special feel with shapes and curves that turn the walls into 3 dimensional playgrounds.



But with all due respect to the 2000 plus paintings and creations in the Sofia, their is one special painting that makes the whole trip to Madrid worth your while.



Next up my encounter with the Guernica…

For anyone who has had the privilege of traveling to Madrid, Spain, art lovers or not, you will all agree that a visit to the Madridian museums are an absolute must.







I ventured to Madrid last week and aside from the unbarring August heat and my horrible Spanish skills, it was an amazing 5 days…



When in Madrid, I stayed on Gran Via, at the heart of the old city of Madrid. The buildings and cathedrals that surround you on every corner are breathtaking and the food and people complete a scenery filled with style, culture and tradition.



The focal point of Madrid’s artistic history can be found at the Museo del Prado – which is a monument of artistic impressions from the 12th century up to the 17th century. Aside from many paintings of Guya and Velazques, you can find some works by Rafael, Rembrandt, Adams and many more.







Frankly, the Prado in my eyes was a disappointment. Yes, these artists were geniuses of there times and the art is absolutely amazing. However, most of the paintings at the Prado show religious themes or aristocratic portraits of the many European genealogies of the time.



Personally I like to stare at art that someone actually thought about and has hidden meanings in his creations. I am not a big fan of Realism and would prefer more modern works like Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne, not to mention Rothko and Picasso.



Another upsetting point about visiting the Prado is their bizarre refusal to allow the visitors to take photos of the paintings… in all the museums in New York, Paris and London that I have visited the flash was always off, but I could at least take photos of the art.



Off course that did not stop me from taking a few pictures from inside the Prado… I wish I could have shown you more, but security noticed I took a few pics and requested me to stop.



To sum, I think that the Prado is great if you are into Realism of the fifteenth and sixteenth century. If you are more of an art connoisseur and would like to enjoy brilliant thought provoking artistic creations, head out to see the Guernica at the Museo Nacional Reina Sofia next door.

Botticelli, Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Rembrandt, etc. – these names are some of the most celebrated masters of the art world. With the improvements in technology, their masterpieces are widely available for view online, in books, on post cards, etcetera, but this cannot be used to replace the real thing. Seeing prints of these incredible works of art is the equivalent to seeing a movie instead of reading a book; you get an idea of what it’s about, but you cannot possibly capture the magical essence of the story or its characters. When you see a painting in person, the brush strokes tell a story about the artist who created them and his state of mind while he painted. The image is a visual manifestation of the artist’s secrets and thoughts that cannot be taken for granted or replaced. Although it is impossible to list all the best museums in the world, here is a basic list of museums you must see before you die. They house the greatest and most popular masterpieces that cannot be replicated.

1. Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City, New York. Located right in the continental United States, this is probably the easiest museum to begin your journey. This is one of the world’s largest museums with over 2 million pieces of artwork. Don’t expect to finish this in one day, but you can ease the load by purchasing a book or guide and deciding which pieces you want to see the most. The building itself is a work of art and guaranteed to inspire.
2. MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)—New York City, New York. While in New York City, you must stop by this incredible collection of famous modern art. Dedicated to being the foremost museum for contemporary and modern art in the world, the MoMA houses works by Van Gogh and Monet, but also boasts considerable Matisse, Picasso, Magritte, and Dali collections. Visit this museum if you truly want to see the inside of an artist’s mind.
3. Musee du Louvre – Paris, France. The world’s most famous museum, the Louvre alone is reason enough to visit Paris. Again, do not expect one or even two days to suffice. Housed in the old Louis Monarchy palace that features the glass pyramids, the Jardin des Tuileries, and halls and halls of incredible artwork. Divided into halls by time period, if you’re limited with time you can choose which eras you appreciate the most, but the best thing to do is buy a book or look online and decide which pieces you want to see the most. With works of art like the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and countless Greek, Egyptian, and Renaissance works, everyone will find something they want. If the price tag of admission is a little too hefty, try going on a Thursday evening. It’s crowded, but admission is free.
4. Musee d’Orsay – Paris, France. Housed in an old train station with a breathtaking glass roof, the art simply belongs here. This collection of 19th and 20th century art houses incredible paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Lautrec, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, and countless others. Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” the famous Whistler, and Degas’s ballerinas do not even begin to break the surface on the famous paintings you’ll find here. It’s also a little less crowded than the Louvre, so you can get closer to the paintings.
5. Uffizi Gallery – Florence, Italy. Originally constructed to display the Medici art collection and now housing some of the world’s most famous Renaissance paintings, the Uffizi Gallery features works by da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli. See “David” and “The Birth of Venus” among thousands of other’s in one of the world’s oldest galleries.

This very basic list outlines some of the most influential art galleries in the world. Despite your personal art preferences, every person should visit every one of these before they die. Once you fall in love with the works hanging on the walls, bring them into your home. Now that you have seen them in person, you can surround yourself with art replicas to remind you of the originals (think watching the movie because you don’t have enough time to read the book in one setting). There are plenty of sites online that sell oil painting reproductions. Try to find one with paintings hand painted by actual artists for the best results. Either pick a room in your home or decorate the entire home with these lovely paintings. Like a blank canvas, remember that the less you have going on in a room, the more beautiful these paintings will look when they add a pop of color. Add art lighting on the ceiling to bring dramatic attention to the paintings and you will be reminded of your wonderful travels every time you see them.

Recently the Telegraph critic, Martin Gayford, listed the 50 best works of art ever made and where you can find them… The list is arranged in a chronological order from the dawn of civilization to the modern/contemporary art exhibits and displays of today.

This is a truly fascinating list that could raise a few eye brows…

I was astonished to find The Da Vinci masterpiece, Lady with Ermine, in the 25th spot. Gayford commented on adding this Da Vinci painting as apposed to his more memorable works:

“The Last Supper is a wreck, the Mona Lisa is so besieged that it’s almost impossible to see – which leaves this beguiling picture as the most beautiful Leonardo in existence. It is in any case the picture that presented one of his great innovations: a sense of human personality more real, subtle and complex than had ever existed in portraiture before.”

Additional popular artists and their art on the list:

• Vincent Van Gogh’s Chair
• Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon
• Henri Matisse, La Danse (II)
• Claude Monet, Waterlilies

It’s an interesting exercise to try and come up with a list of great works of art, my guess is that my list would’ve been completely different…

Recently, Art Newspaper released it’s annual list of most popular art museums in the world.

The Mona Lisa still drives the most traffic among any work of art and paced the Louvre Museum in Paris with an estimated 8,300,000 visitors.

Here’s the list of the top art museums in the world in its entirety:

No. Visitors – Museum, City:
8,300,000 – Louvre, Paris
5,509,425 – Centre Pompidou, Paris
5,191,840 – Tate Modern, London
4,837,878 – British Museum, London
4,547,353 – Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
4,518,413 – National Gallery of Art, Washington
4,310,083 – Vatican Museums, Vatican City
4,159,485 – National Gallery, London
3,166,509 – Musée d’Orsay, Paris
2,652,924 – Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
2,650,551 – National Palace Museum, Taipei
2,435,300 – Victoria and Albert Museum, London
2,395,075 – State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
2,232,475 – Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
2,219,554 – Museum of Modern Art, New York
2,133,149 – Field Museum, Chicago
1,772,255 – Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo
1,674,607 – CaxiaForum Barcelona, Barcelona
1,650,000 – Moscow Kremlin Museums, Moscow
1,649,969 – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

I had the privilege of visiting the New York and London Museums on the list this past year, a pleasure that I will cherish forever. I would recommend visiting all the museums on the list and enjoy the magnificent art and culture that they embrace.

Another small museum in New York is the Neue Galerie Museum that holds the most prised New York painting aside of the MoMA’s Van Gogh Starry Night. Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer by Gustav Klimt is going to be the Mona Lisa of the city. I went to see it this past summer and it is as breath taking as any artwork you have ever seen. The price tag is equally impressive tallying over $135 Million.

While busying yourself to complete your itinerary, do not neglect the art that surrounds you while on vacation. While eating your meals or walking along the narrow paths of a European city, their in the art around you lies the history, the passion of the people, and the true story of the place.

Another option is to look for up and coming artist on the walls of the cafés. While enjoying your “Café Ole” ask management, waiters and find out about interesting art you find on the wall. It is a great way to take back memories with you from your travels, and who knows, your small investment could grow into what could possibly be the beginning stages of your child’s college fund.

Pablo Picasso’s Old Guitarist (1903) a masterpiece from the artist’s Blue Period depicts a man sitting cross-legged playing a guitar. Reminds me of art decor you will find in a small French or Spanish cafe while traveling. No laptop computer, no business meetings, no carpooling children to soccer games, simply enjoy yourself and take in the cafe decor.

The MoMA Museum was one of the highlights of my travels this summer.
I had a great time walking past the great artworks that I only read about in art journals throughout the years.


I made this video as I was strolling past the Van Gogh Starry Night Oil Painting… This is just a joke so don’t take it the wrong way…