arthipstory
makin' art real talk
Monthly Archives: June 2014
joseph-etienne roulin
Vincent van Gogh painted six portraits of the Joseph-Etienne Roulin, the mailman, between July 1888 and April 1889. I mean, the man owes a few high fives and paintings to the postal service — the Letters of Vincent van Gogh surpass 900 pieces of correspondence.
I know Roulin didn’t deliver all of them, but my goodness, let’s do the math: That’s one postman painting for every 140 letters written.
The Barnes does a great job letting the world know their painting is “brighter and fresher” than the other versions of Roulin, and it’s the only one that’s signed. You know what, Barnes? I’m starting to get a similar opinion I have of you that I have for Gauguin. It’s not even a feeling, it’s just a low groan.
cézanne’s “the world is an apple”
While I might be too tempted to throw eggs at the exterior (half-kidding, though the producers of “Art of the Steal” would be totally fine with that), the Barnes Foundation is hosting a beautiful Cézanne exhibit called “The World is an Apple.” Of course, the Barnes is the only place hosting the show. Well, LA-DEE-DAH, Barnes.
bedroom(s) at arles
One of my favorite games is “Spot the Differences.” I own that feature in People magazine. Today’s edition features Roy Lichtenstein’s Bedroom at Arles (part of the Meyerhoff collection at the Fitzhugh Farm) and van Gogh’s.
Ready, set, spot!
Roy really hates visible nails, hanging fixtures, and messes. He makes up for it with his love of Ben-Day dots and folded towels.
While you won’t see Bedroom, the “Pop Art Prints” exhibition features prominent work by Roy. Go after a happy hour. You’ll look so cultured.
model as muse
A show at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art (don’t be fooled, this is not the American Art Museum) examines the model in painting. “Artists and their Models” opened May 15 and runs through the summer.
“The model has long been essential to the work of the artist..They often serve as artists’ muses—mortals who can sometimes be almost otherworldly in their ability to inspire creativity…Models are too often given short shrift in art history, their names and stories left unknown unless their fame came by way of scandal.”
Their stories left unknown?! Get it together, Smithsonian! I’ve seen Factory Girl, so I know it doesn’t end well for Edie Sedgwick, though it did wonders for Sienna Miller’s hair.
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