The Norton Simon, 3-1-15

The Norton Simon. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

1) Van Gogh:

2) Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Manet:

So much Degas

 Zurbaran:

This fabulous creature:

The paintings of architecture:

and 17th century Fabio:

I assumed before going to the Norton Simon that such a small museum would have a quaint little art collection I could digest and leave behind in an hour or so.

I was wrong. A friend and I spent at least 3 hours in the 19th century collection alone. The modern and contemporary art collection didn't get me as excited as the earlier work, but was still respectable.

Highlights were: Van Gogh, though it sounds a bit cliche to say as he is such a globally well-liked artist. I feel a connection to him through his paintings I have a hard time describing. There is evidence of the man in his brushstrokes, full of character.

The friend who accompanied me is a public health nurse and not involved in the arts which offerend a refreshing perspective on the works. She mentioned, very seriously, while looking at "The Mulberry Tree," 1889, that if she were to ask one of her mentally handicapped patients to paint her a tree, that is what she would see. It was a sad little moment for me, knowing how Van Gogh's mental health was in question and his tragic early death and further solidified my fond feelings for him.

Vincent van Gogh, The Muberry Tree, 1889

The Manet piece, "The Railway," was being exhibited at the time and was surrounded by people coming in for a closer look. I didn't spend very much time contemplating it because of the crowd and instead moved on to a room filled with Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Degas.

Manet, The Railway, 1873

I remember studying Lautrec in Modern Art but hadn't thought much of his paintings at the time. In person, however, they completely transform. The complexity of mark making is mind blowing and the subtlety of color shift is beautiful. At a distance, his faces seem washed out, pale and sickly, up close they are alive with tiny brush strokes. It seems almost a commentary on the prostitutes and performers he painted.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Red-Headed Woman in the Garden of Monsieur Foret, 1887

And finally, Zurbaran. The week before this museum visit, I came across his work 3 separate times, culminating in happening across them at the Norton Simon. Having never heard of him previously, I have taken this as a sign to sit up and pay attention.

Zurbaran, Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose, 1633

I was particularly taken by his use of dramatic lighting as an essential element to the narrative of his paintings. I have to spend a little more time really diving into the content of these paintings. Particularly, this still life which is the image that seems to be coming up the most often. Each item has a distinct personality and story to tell.

This museum visit was the hightlight of this weekend and I am looking forward to visiting in the future.