admin, Author at A Long Look

09 Doylestown House-The Stove – Sheeler

Black and white photograph by Charles Sheeler of woodburning stove in country house — Charles Sheeler, (American, 1883 – 1965), Doylestown House–The Stove, 1917, gelatin silver print, Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund, 1998.19.3

This gelatin silver print by American artist Charles Sheeler is one of several images he created while experimenting with the modernist ideas he’d discovered in the breakthrough work of artists like Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso.

We’ll find out how these experimental images, created in an old country house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, led to Sheeler becoming one of the most innovative and important American artists. (By the way, Bucks County is lovely, I highly recommend visiting!)

And we’ll discover his connection to Vogue and Vanity Fair!

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show notes

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas
youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Dead From the Beginning Alive Till the End” by Doctor Turtle.
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/none_given_1561/Dead_From_The_Beginning_Alive_Till_The_End

Doylestown House — The Stove information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.103272.html

https://www.nga.gov/global-site-search-page.html?searchterm=sheeler&category=Online%20Features&pageNumber=1&lastFacet=category

“Charles Sheeler,” NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/constituent/2745

Gelatin silver process
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin_silver_process

Slow Art Day
http://www.slowartday.com

08 Skiffs – Caillebotte

Painting of men boating on a river on a summer day by Gustave Caillebotte — Gustave Caillebotte (French, 1848 – 1894), Skiffs, 1877, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon 1985.64.6

This sunny, warm painting is a welcome relief in this miserable March. Skiffs is one in a series of young men boating by Gustave Caillebotte who was a lesser known Impressionist painter until a beautiful 2015 exhibition at the National Gallery.

We’ll find out about his relationship with his fellow Impressionists, his killer art collection and how he turns up in one of Renoir’s most famous paintings.

Painting of a lively group of young people having lunch in an outdoor space — Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1881. Oil on canvas, 51 1/4×69 1/8 in. The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, Acquired 1923

I’d like to thank the staff at the Phillips Collection for their help with this episode.

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SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas
youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 – V. Happiness by Robert Schumann performed by Donald Betts. https://musopen.org/music/2326-scenes-from-childhood-op-15/

Skiffs information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.66404.html

Introduction to the Exhibition—Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter’s Eye

Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter’s Eye, Exhibition Catalog
https://shop.nga.gov/item/645727p/gustave-caillebotte-the-painter-s-eye-exhibition-catalog/1.html

Renoir and Friends: Luncheon of the Boating Party
https://www.amazon.com/Renoir-Friends-Luncheon-Boating-Party/dp/191128200X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520629125&sr=8-1&keywords=renoir+and+friends+phillips

Slow Art Day
http://www.slowartday.com

07 Judith Leyster Self-Portrait

This warm and welcoming self-portrait by Dutch master Judith Leyster is a gallery favorite. Join me while I talk about how this remarkable woman accomplished what few women artists did in her time only to disappear from history until an English court case began her revival.

We’ll discover the reason why her impractical outfit served a larger purpose and her clever two-birds-with-one-stone marketing technique.

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SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas
youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Concerto for 2 Flutes in C major, RV 533 – III. Allegro” by Antonio Vivaldi performed by the Orchestra Gli Armonici
https://musopen.org/music/3613-concerto-for-2-flutes-in-c-major-rv-533/

Self-Portrait information
Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Judith Leyster/Self-Portrait/c. 1630,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/37003 (accessed February 12, 2018).

https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/leyster-self-portrait.html

Court case information

https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/leyster-self-portrait.html#judith-leyster-self-portrait-c-1630

Judith Leyster: A Woman Painter in Holland’s Golden Age, by Frima Fox Hofrichter, Doornspijk, 1989, Davaco Publishers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Leyster#Leyster_and_Frans_Hals

Slow Art Day
http://www.slowartday.com

06 The Railway – Manet

Painting of woman and young girl outdoors in front of iron railing with steam rising behind them. — Edouard Manet (French, 1832 – 1883), The Railway, 1873, oil on canvas, Gift of Horace Havemeyer in memory of his mother, Louisine W. Havemeyer 1956.10.1

Today, I’ll be looking at “The Railway” by Édouard Manet. This enigmatic painting has fascinated viewers since its creation in 1873. Set in a rapidly modernizing Paris, the work raised loads of questions (and critics’ hackles.)

We’ll find answers to some of the mysteries and (just like in “The Mill” episode) discover something I’d never seen before!

Here’s a photo of the egg-and-dart molding around the frame I mention. You can see why it would be hard to describe!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.5MB)

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SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas
youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is Claude Debussy’s “Cello Sonata – III. Finale – Anime” performed by Paul Pitman and Bang-Eun Lee
https://musopen.org/music/4516-cello-sonata/

The Railway
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.43624.html#relatedpages

Slow Art Day
http://www.slowartday.com

05 Blue Morning – Bellows

Image of the painting "Blue Morning" by George Bellows depicting the construction of the original Penn Station in New York City. — George Bellows (American, 1882 – 1925), Blue Morning, 1909, oil on canvas, Chester Dale Collection 1963.10.82

Today, I’ll be looking at “Blue Morning” by George Bellows. Bellows lived and worked in New York at the turn of the 20th century and studied under artist Robert Henri (pronounced Hen-rye). His classmates included John Sloan and Edward Hopper. “Blue Morning” may have been inspired by Henri’s call for his students to paint the world around them instead of more genteel academic scenes.

We’ll find out how Bellows is connected to Mary Cassatt and how New Jersey inspired one of the greatest technological achievements of the 20th century.

And we’ll see how an artist who’s so highly regarded for realism bent the rules a little here!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.7MB)

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SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas
youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Frog Legs Rag,” courtesy of WFMU’s Free Music Archive
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/James_Scott/Frog_Legs_Ragtime_Era_Favorites/01_-_james_scott_-_frog_legs_rag

Blue Morning
Robert Torchia, “George Bellows/Blue Morning/1909,” American Paintings, 1900–1945, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/46557 (accessed January 11, 2018).

“The Rise & Fall of Penn Station”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/penn/

Slow Art Day
http://www.slowartday.com

04 The Annunciation – Van Eyck

Jan van Eyck (Netherlandish, c. 1390 – 1441 ), The Annunciation, c. 1434/1436, oil on canvas transferred from panel, Andrew W. Mellon Collection

In this belated holiday episode, I’ll be looking at another favorite of mine, “The Annunciation,” by Jan Van Eyck. This complicated and fascinating painting illustrates the Biblical story of the Archangel Gabriel’s arrival to announce to Mary that she’s been chosen to bear the son of God.

We’ll talk about how this innovative painter wove elaborate religious imagery into this composition and the technique he used to create such gorgeous detail. We’ll also find out why a zodiac is involved, what Van Eyck did as a side gig and which Renaissance noble may have been the model for Mary. And you get to hear me mispronounce Latin!

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SHOW NOTES

The Annunciation https://www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.46.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S

“The Annunciation” theme is “Greensleeves to a Ground” performed by Ariel Martin Bellio https://musopen.org/music/2096/anonymous/greensleeves-to-a-ground/

03 The Boating Party – Cassatt

Today, I’ll be looking at Mary Cassatt’s “The Boating Party.” This large painting represents a big break in style for Cassatt. She was one of the few American Impressionists in Paris as well as one of the few American women working as professional artists. She’s best known for her intimate domestic scenes of mothers and children but we’ll find out how an exhibit of Japanese prints and summers on the Mediterranean influenced her to try new techniques and move beyond Impressionism.

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SHOW NOTES

“The Boating Party” https://www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.46569.html#overview

For information on Mary Cassatt, visit NGA Mary Cassatt online feature and click on “Mary Cassatt – Selected Paintings” or “Mary Cassatt – Selected Prints”

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S

“The Boating Party” theme is “Laideronnette, imperatrice des pagodes” by Ravel, performed by Luis Sarro https://musopen.org/music/539/maurice-ravel/ma-mere-loye/

02 Young Girl Reading – Fragonard

Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732 – 1806 ), Young Girl Reading, c. 1770, oil on canvas, Gift of Mrs. Mellon Bruce in memory of her father, Andrew W. Mellon

Today, I take a long look at Jean Honoré Fragonard’s “Young Girl Reading,” part of his famous series of “Fantasy Figures.” Or is she?

Join me while we find out and explore the mystery of the woman lurking underneath.

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SHOW NOTES

“Young Girl Reading: A Hidden Portrait Revealed” https://www.nga.gov/features/fantasy-figures-identified/hidden-portrait.html

“Fragonard: The Fantasy Figures” https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2017/fragonard-the-fantasy-figures.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S

“Young Girl Reading” theme is Piano Sonata no. 9 in E, Op. 14 no. 1 – I. Allegro by Paul Pitman

01 The Mill – Rembrandt

The Mill by Rembrandt — Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606 – 1669 ), The Mill, 1645/1648, oil on canvas, Widener Collection

In this episode, I’ll be looking at Rembrandt’s “The Mill,” a long time favorite of mine. You can find a larger version on the gallery’s website. Look for the zoom tool on the page which allows you to magnify and pan around the image.

We’ll find hidden figures and hear about the controversy that surrounded the painting.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)

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Show Notes

“The Mill” theme is “Duet Baroque” by Avexer

Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Rembrandt van Rijn/The Mill/1645/1648,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/1201 (accessed October 06, 2017).

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S

Welcome to…

A Long Look show art for welcome message

Ever get museum fatigue? That feeling of being overwhelmed as you try to take in as much art as possible during a visit? Let me introduce you to a different, more engaging way of looking at art. I’m Karen Jackson, a life-long art lover and museum fan.

In each episode, I’ll take you through the slow art experience while looking at works in the amazing collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. You’ll also hear about the history, mystery or controversy that are part of each work’s past.

Each episode is about 10 minutes, just long enough to give you an idea of how this experience works and hopefully will encourage you to try it out on your next museum visit!