JUST A PLEASANT MOMENT WITH A RUSSIAN TASTE

The Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam is always a pleasure to visit. The site is marvelous yet it has kept it’s original flavour and if you want to go a little further. ….

http://www.hermitage.nl/en/hermitage_amsterdam/geschiedenis_van_het_gebouw.htm

The walk up from the hotel, small case clacking behind me on the pebbled pavement was a lovely one and after the rain and cold of the day before, the sun was about to come out. Walking along the canals has a charm of its own - different from Venice and different from the little town I visited close to  Shanghai. Amsterdam and its people who are ready to help and all those I have encountered when I lose my way (often) speak excellent English. I was  at the Hermitage at opening time.

Around 1900, Paris was the undisputed centre of the European art world. After the Impressionists took hold another group of artists went in search of new artistic avenues. Paul Gaugin, Pierre Bonnard and Maurice Denis joined  artists in the name of « Les Nabis » In contrast to the Impressionists the Nabis emphasized color, expression, symbols and imagination. These were the artists who paved the way to abstract art. It was the same collectors that I spoke about for Malevich - Ivan Morozov and Sergei Shchukin who were great followers of modern French Art and it wasn’t too long before they were among the best and most talked about in Russia.

It’s a period which should be followed to see what is to come and that is the only reason I went along to see the exhibition.   However, I have got admit that « Gauguin, Bonnard, Denis A Russian Taste for French Art » did not send me into raptures. It was a relaxing moment in a beautiful setting. 


Now to the Jewish Historical Museum. THIS I was looking forward to. 


Édouard Vuillard, In a Room, 1899

Paul Gauguin, Sacred Spring: Sweet Dreams (Nave Nave 1894)


Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, Woman on the Beach, 1887
Auguste Rodin, The Sinful Woman 1885

Félix Vallotton, Woman at a Piano, 1904,

Édouard Vuillard, Children, 1909,


 

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Michael Keane a dit…
The Vuillard and Vallotton remind me of Vermeer.
24/1/14 22:05
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