"This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affectations glow and valor is reborn, when the shadows deepen along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn."


Friday, January 14, 2011

The End of the de Young's Impressionist Exhibit

van Gogh - Starry Night
(Do you know he painted more than one version of this?)

It seems like only a few weeks ago when the "Impressionist Exhibit" began....but that was last September! In those passing months, so much has happened, sad and happy, to all of us...Life, as they say, continues to move forward - and we with it.

Cezanne - Still Life with Onions
(Love the simple, yet strong brush strokes...)

This weekend is the final one for the Musee d'Orsay Exhibition.....so for those of you who couldn't attend in person,  I thought I would show you a few of my favourite paintings...


Rosseau - The Snake Charmer
(A particular favourite - erotic, sensual - can't you almost smell the hot, tropical air and hear the strains of the flute?)






  
van Gogh - The Bedroom at Arles
(What can one say about "The Master"....genius, genius.....)

And last....to leave you with a smile...

Bonnard - The White Cat
(I just fell in love with this!)

There were so many others I could have included....  it was a delight to be able to see all of these gorgeous paintings in person....  I will always treasure the experience.  I hope you enjoyed my "mini-tour".

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

22 comments:

  1. I very much enjoyed this post, Robin. It reminds me of how much I miss having a good art museum nearby. There is seemingly no end to how much the University of Oregon is willing to spend on football, but when it comes to art, that's another story.

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  2. Snow! How nice to hear from you....

    I understand how you feel about the lack of good museums......one of the "perks" of living in SF.

    (I thought you would like the Bonnard.....Brewsky would be proud to see one of his "kin" so wonderfully represented!)

    Happy New Year to you, Peggy and the "Brewmeister"!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  3. And a great new year to you too, Robin.

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  4. I agree with Snowbrush about wishing I lived near a good art museum. thanks Robin. I just unpacked my Rousseau book. In fact books with works by all these guys. Bonnard is one of my favorite painters, so subtle. Interesting he was included. How I would love to see his work in the flesh.

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  5. I got to see the Van Gogh showing in LA some years ago. I was so amazed at his work in person. I saw the two you posted. I loved the bedroom one. I have seen a few other impressionist shows too. Wish I could have seen this show. What fun to be able to work around all these lovely works of Art.

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  6. i love that rousseau painting with the moon in the background -- you are lucky to have such an incredible exhibit in town..... thank you for sharing it with us!

    xx

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  7. Feeling so sad....Our home in France is only 40 KM away from Arles the museum there hasn't any of Vincent paintings.....
    xxxMar and a big wetty one from?

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  8. Suki, I must confess my ignorance regarding Monsieur Bonnard! But, the first time I walked the Exhibit Halls - I gasped with delight when I saw his "White Cat"! Since then, I have done some reserach and he has leaped to the top of my favourites! I was thrilled this piece was included....

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  9. Hi Cris...isn't that bedroom painting incredible? I just adore it - as I do most everything he painted.

    I will miss being able to walk in and enjoy looking when I was at "work"....sigh.... back to Paris it all goes!

    Have a lovely (and hopefully sunny) weekend!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  10. Amanda, dear "Twin" - I am thrilled the Rosseau "spoke" to you.... I have always loved looking at it on paper....and to finally see it "in the flesh" was such a thrill! It is even more gorgeous!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  11. Marja, your comment made me sad.... to think of Arles - and all it meant to van Gogh...yet, most of his masterpieces are now elsewhere....it's like so many of the Egyptian relics ensconsed in the British Museum...... sigh.... but....at least you can visit the real places he was inspired to paint....perhaps one day we four "Schwestern" can visit there..... of couirse we MUST ask Beaudor to accompany us!

    Love to both and a BIG WET ONE to Monsieur B!

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  12. I should have been there for this exhibit, plain and simple. So many of my favorites! Bonnard, for sure, Cezanne, a master colorist before his time, and Vincent, my grandfather's middle name (whom I was named after, Lawrence Vincent)oh to be near his works again.

    My friends want me to come back for the Picasso exhibit in August. Funds wise, I'm not so sure I can, but you know if I do I will certainly run to you!!

    xoxoxo
    Love,
    BS♥

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  13. love that white cat - had never heard of that artist but I'll look more now. I went to the van gogh museum in Amsterdam many years ago, and it was amazing.
    Thanks for the tour dear....

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  14. Mon Cher "BS",

    How I wish we could have seen these masterpieces together..... oh well, we will just have to plan a trip to Paree...

    Oui, Oui....Picasso is coming! It promises to be stellar.... wouldn't that be fun to see
    together? Hmmmmm.....one never knows what will happen!

    Love,

    ♥ LS ♥

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  15. Mim.... Bonnard was "new" to me as well.... but after looking a some of his other pieces, I am now a fan. Nothing beats this White Cat!
    I went back to look at him a lot....

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  16. Hi Robin:) I love all of those paintings you exhibited here, especially the starry nights and the bedroom in Arles painting by van gogh. I always loved the way he had painted those chairs ! Thank you for you comments on my blog, you know that thanks to you I re-titled one of my drawings "Daphne metamorphosing into a tree" cause it reminded you this legend, and since then I am re-reading greek legends, to do more drawings on those, thank you for inspiring me:) Have a lovely week, greetings from Paris, Andrea

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  17. Bon Jour, Cher Andrea! I am happy you came to visit - and honoured to have helped add a bit of Greek Mythology to your incredible art!
    Your "Daphne" drawing brought that legend to life!

    I hope your week is a gorgeous one!

    Hugs,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  18. Oh, I would have loved this exhibit! You are a lucky little duck!

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  19. Hi Little Miss N!
    Good to sea you again!
    Lovely post , must have been a terrific exhibition!
    Love Vincent's work The song starry night always bring tears to my eyes!
    I know you are having a foggy day there! SH....
    well I hope it clears up soon so you can see the sun the moon and the stars again, you need them!

    Take care little Princess sister
    ♥♥♥
    >M<

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  20. Dear Geliebte Schwester *M*,

    NOW I know you are feeling better!!! This makes me warm -despite all the fog! You MUST be so proud of your countryman...Vincent....I must tell you how wonderful it was to see some of his work in person....to get as close as I could, looking at the brushstrokes....then moving back to view it as a whole scene. I was AWESTRUCK - because seeing it in person is ever so more powerful than seeing a mere photo.

    Tomorrow....I am going to send you a photo of one of your gifts combined with something I already own..... speaking of *Stars*....you never cease to amaze me!

    Rest still - do not overdo it yet!

    Hugs to all and then more hugs!!!!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  21. Robin,
    This was truly a treat. I studied the masters in college and especially love the Impressionist period. And you are so right, there is nothing that can match standing in front of one of these masterpieces, in real life.

    Vincent Van Gogh is my favorite painter of all time, (except of course my mother!) I love all his work from his pen and paper sketches to his passionate writing. It was a dream to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. I went intending to leave with a poster of Wheatfield with crows or Sunflowers to take home. Instead I left with something completely opposite, I bought Almond Blossom. This painting took my breathe away with it's delicate ethereal feel. And I so loved the story behind it. I read: this painting was inspired by the birth of Van Gogh's nephew Vincent (my nephews name too) Willem, the son of his brother Theo and sister-in-law Jo. Van Gogh painted the almond blossom in a decorative composition with a Japanese flavour. When the canvas was finished he sent the work to the new parents as a gift. Jo later wrote that the baby was fascinated by the sky-blue painting that hung in their bedroom. So am I.

    love to you,
    lori

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  22. Oh the bedroom in Aries. I'd never seen it and I am off my chair wanting to paint one hundedth like that

    been to amsterdam, been to Paris, humbled and awestruck each time

    what a wonderful post ms dear wrobin

    xoxo
    kj

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