Vincent Van Gogh’s 1888 masterpiece The Night Cafe is one of the most famous paintings in the world. And now it’s in the middle of a sticky lawsuit that could send shockwaves throughout the entire world of art. The problem dates back to 1918, when the communist government nationalized personal property–including the Van Gogh in question–in the USSR. Years ... Read More »
Nestled comfortably in what was once a quaint suburb of Faubourg Saint-Germain (now Paris’s upscale 7th arrondissement), the stunningly chic Hôtel Biron was built between the years of 1728 and 1730. The beauty of both its exterior and lushly appointed interior, no doubt struck the several artists who took temporary residence there, such as Jean Cocteau, Henri Matisse, and lastly, ... Read More »
Once a grand railway station, the beautiful Musée d’Orsay seemed destined to house artwork that would complement its stunning architecture and interior design. However, it was not until 1977 that the building became a museum, hosting the Impressionist collection from the Musée de Luxembourg. But before these artworks found their way to d’Orsay, they were rejected by the Musée ... Read More »
The Museo Thyssen‐Bornemisza and Caja Madrid have teamed up with the National Gallery of Scotland and curator Clare Wilsdon, Professor at Glasgow University and author of In the Gardens of Impressionism, to present the exhibition Impressionist Gardens, an extensive survey of the theme of gardens in painting from the mid‐ 19th century to the early 20th century. The exhibition includes ... Read More »
Ever wish you could ask the curator at the Guggenheim how they come up with such diverse exhibitions or the Van Gogh Museum just how does one package a piece of an ear? Well thanks so the people behind Ask a Curator, you can. “‘Ask a Curator Day’ on September 1st 2010 will open the door to these ... Read More »
When all three of your brothers and sisters are fellow artists, particularly the famous Marcel Duchamp, it is hard to distinguish one’s own identity. Thus, Gaston Duchamp adopted the working pseudonym of Jacques Villon. Marcel Duchamp’s ‘Unknown’ brother was a painter and graphic artist whose legacy includes almost 700 prints in addition to paintings. From 1950 onward his work ... Read More »
Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh spent much of the last years of his life in France. The artist’s stay in Arles is perhaps one of his most well known periods as he spent nine-weeks with Gaugin there and painted 300 works. The final year of his life though was spent in Saint Rémy-de-Provence, just northeast of Arles, before his fateful ... Read More »
70 Million by Hold Your Horses ! from L’Ogre on Vimeo. L’Ogre Productions did an amazing job of reconstructing famous works of art in their video for Franco-Americn band Hold Your Horses! Keep an eye out for the references to Vermeer’s Girl with a pearl earring, Munch’s The Scream and Van Gogh’s self-portrait. Read More »
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