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River Landscape with Ferry by Salomon van Ruysdael

An image of the painting being described — Ruysdael, Salomon van (Dutch, c. 1602 – 1670), River Landscape with Ferry, 1649, oil on canvas, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund. This acquisition was made possible through the generosity of the family of Jacques Goudstikker, in his memory. 2007.116.1

Salomon van Ruysdael absolutely nails the feeling of optimism, enjoyment, maybe even relief, as his fellow Dutch citizens ferry across a river on a soft spring evening. They’re setting out to explore their hard-won, brand new Dutch Republic. You might remember from a previous episode about their war for independence against Spain, they spent 80 years fighting for this moment.

We’ll find out the ferry might have meant more than just transportation to these folks and how it came to the Gallery after a long restitution battle.

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

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

Episode theme is “The Four Seasons, Op. 8” composed by Antonio Vivaldi. Performed by the Modena Chamber Orchestra
https://musopen.org/music/performer/the-modena-chamber-orchestra/composer/antonio-vivaldi/

Artwork information
Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Salomon van Ruysdael/River Landscape with Ferry/1649,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/139458 (accessed May 03, 2020).

Salomon van Ruysdael information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.18427.html

Goudstikker restitution
https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Jacques-Goudstikker-s-recovered-art-2452469.php

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/arts/design/22heir.html

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

The Lackawanna Valley by George Inness

George Inness painted this scene of a train chugging through a bucolic landscape for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad to commemorate the opening of their big, new train roundhouse in Scranton PA. This hub would allow them to expand service from the Great Lakes to Hoboken NJ, right across the Hudson River from New York City.

We’ll find out how George fell in love with painting and how his wife’s wisdom prevailed against his artistic pride!

By the way, the Hoboken terminus played a role in another episode, Blue Morning by George Bellows.

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

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

Episode theme is “Over The Water, Humans Gather” by Doctor Turtle
https://doctorturtle.bandcamp.com/album/free-turtle-archive-everything-cc-by-by-turtle

Artwork information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.30776.html

Cikovsky, Nicolai, Jr. “George Inness and the Hudson River School: The Lackawanna Valley.” The American Art Journal 2 (Fall 1970): 36-57, repro.

George Inness information
“George Inness Artist Overview and Analysis”. [Internet]. 2020. TheArtStory.org

Content compiled and written by Sarah Ingram. Edited and revised, with Synopsis and Key Ideas added by Greg Thomas.
Available from: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/inness-george/life-and-legacy/

First published on 30 Nov 2019. Updated and modified regularly [Accessed 02 Apr 2020]

Inness, George. Life, Art, and Letters of George Inness. The Century Co., 1917. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433066280367.

Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware,_Lackawanna_and_Western_Railroad

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

Season 5 Begins

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how appropriate it would be to start another season of an arts podcast during the Covid-19 pandemic. But the incredibly creative work of so many museums, galleries and people around the world convinced me to join in.

Because the Gallery is closed, I’ll be choosing artworks on their site that allow for zooming and panning to see details. As always, you’re invited to do the same! I’ll include a direct link below the image in each post. The pan and zoom features work best in a desktop or tablet browser.

Looking forward to sharing new long (distance) looks with all of you and hope you stay safe and healthy.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.7MB)

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGEdNSNkZoo&feature=youtu.be

End of Season 4

The blossoms are starting to bloom, so “A Long Look” is going on spring break! In the meantime, there’s lots of great stuff happening at the Gallery including the return of NGA Nights. Check out www.nga.gov for details!

If you’ve been enjoying the show I’d really appreciate if you would spread the word! Personal recommendations are one of the top ways people discover podcasts. Another way you can support the show is by leaving a review or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite app.

And don’t forget, “A Long Look” can be enjoyed by listeners who are blind or have low vision! They can listen on their iOS devices using Apple Podcasts or the Overcast app. And transcripts are available starting with Season 3. So, if you have friends or relatives who are part of these communities, let them know too!

Thanks to all of you who spend part of your day with “A Long Look”! If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you! The comments section is just below this post.

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SHOW NOTES

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

The Mother and Sister of the Artist by Berthe Morisot

Image of oil painting being described — Morisot, Berthe (French, 1841 – 1895), The Mother and Sister of the Artist, 1869/1870, oil on canvas, Chester Dale Collection 1963.10.186

When Berthe Morisot and her sister Edma wanted to learn how to paint, their parents willingly obliged. After all, that was part of an upper-class young woman’s education. But when their teacher saw their incredible talent, he warned their mother, “…they will become painters. Are you fully aware of what that means? It will be revolutionary…” And he was right! For a woman to become a professional painter was almost unheard of in 1850s Paris.

But Berthe did it, even after her well-meaning mentor Édouard Manet made some…uh…improvements to this painting just before the deadline for submission to the all-important Salon. Prepare to cringe!

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

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

Episode theme is “Fauré Nocturne no. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 36” composed by Gabriel Fauré.
https://musopen.org/music/7909-nocturne-no-4-in-e-flat-major-op-36/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/european-archive/

https://musopen.org/music/composer/gabriel-faure/

Artwork information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46661.html

https://www.artble.com/artists/berthe_morisot/paintings/portrait_of_the_artist’s_mother_and_sister

Morisot information
Stuckey, Charles F., William P. Scott, and Suzanne G. Lindsay. Berthe Morisot, Impressionist 1st ed. New York: Hudson Hills Press, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum in association with the National Gallery of Art, 1987.

Shennan, Margaret. Berthe Morisot : the First Lady of Impressionism Phoenix Mill: Sutton, 1996.

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-berthe-morisot-brought-radically-feminine-perspective-impressionism

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

Autumn – On the Hudson River by Jasper Cropsey

When Jasper Cropsey painted Autumn – On the Hudson River, he set out to create a breathtaking vista to promote the idea of American grandeur and vast potential. Like Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) by Winslow Homer, it was meant to be optimistic and suggest endless possibilities. Ironic, since it was painted one year before the Civil War started.

We’ll find out how Cropsey’s talent took him from a Staten Island farm to meeting royalty at St. James Palace and his connection to an elevated railway in Manhattan.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.7MB)

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

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

Episode theme is “Kiss Inflation” by Doctor Turtle.
https://doctorturtle.bandcamp.com/

Artwork information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.46474.html

American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century: Part I (PDF)
https://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/research/publications/pdfs/american-paintings-19th-century-part-1.pdf

Jasper Cropsey information
http://www.newingtoncropsey.com/JFCropsey.html

Gilbert Elevated Railway information
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/realestate/01scap-001.html

Ever Rest information
http://www.newingtoncropsey.com/EverRest.html

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

La Condition Humaine by René Magritte

image of clouds and text saying click here to view — *La Condition Humaine* does not have an open access image available. You can see it online by clicking the placeholder or this link: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.70170.html

Rene Magritte is one of the best known Surrealist painters and loved turning expectations on their heads. Which could explain A LOT about some of the more unsavory parts of his life!

And we’ll find out how he turned a simple view of a front lawn into something mind-blowing!

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

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

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

Episode theme is “Menuet antique” composed by Maurice Ravel. Performed by Luis Sarro. Courtesy of musopen.org

https://musopen.org/music/4704-menuet-antique/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/luis-sarro/

https://musopen.org/music/composer/maurice-ravel/

Artwork information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.70170.html

Magritte information
Morris, Desmond. The Lives of the Surrealists London;: Thames & Hudson, 2018.

Elliott, Patrick. Another World : Dalí, Magritte, Míro and the Surrealists. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland, 2010. Print.

What You Need to Know about René Magritte (Artsy article)
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-rene-magritte

René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War, Paul Simon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lj5RgpgfPE

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

The Annunciation by Masolino da Panicale

Images of Annunciation painting being described

It’s Christmas and that means it’s time to look at another of the Gallery’s gorgeous Annunciation paintings. The elaborate inlay work decorating almost every square inch of this Renaissance room almost makes you miss the main event! Masolino has chosen to show the moment after Gabriel’s astounding news but before Mary’s response.

We’ll find out why the room is so tilted and the real reason behind Mary’s silence.

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

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

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

Episode theme is “Angeli, Archangeli” composed by Andrea Gabrieli. Performed by Michel Rondeau. Courtesy of musopen.org.

https://musopen.org/music/43293-angeli-archangeli/

https://musopen.org/music/performer/michel-rondeau/

https://musopen.org/music/composer/andrea-gabrieli/

Artwork information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.18.html

Tempera painting (video)
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/painting-materials-techniques/v/tempera-paint

Mary pose information
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/11/30/pregnant-pause-mary-and-annunciation

“Christmas Story in Art” (video)
https://www.nga.gov/global-site-search-page.html?searchterm=christmas%20story%20in%20art&category=Audio%2FVideo&pageNumber=1&lastFacet=category

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

The Dancing Couple by Jan Steen

I realized I’ve been talking a lot lately about pure and pious saints. So, it’s time to lighten up by hanging out with people who know how to party–the Dutch! Scenes like this of a large group drinking and dancing were Jan Steen’s specialty.

We’ll find out what brings these country and city folks together and the naughty message behind the caged rooster!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.2MB)

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SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

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

Episode theme is “Achaidh Cheide” by Kevin MacLeod.
Music from https://filmmusic.io “Achaidh Cheide” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The Dancing Couple information
Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Jan Steen/The Dancing Couple/1663,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/1220 (accessed December 03, 2019).

Jan Steen: Painter and Storyteller (PDF)
https://www.nga.gov/research/publications/pdf-library/jan-steen-painter-and-storyteller.html

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

Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) by Winslow Homer

Breezing Up was a huge hit when Homer exhibited it during the American centennial, 1876. Viewers loved the optimism he conveyed in this scene of a trio of boys and their old skipper speeding towards port, one lad looking towards the horizon.

We’ll find out how Homer uses a technique we heard about in the Sargent episode that makes us feel like we’re on board and get a brief introduction to lithography, a popular printing method. And I confess to missing an important symbol!