I had the opportunity to visit the exhibit and was amazed at the difference between viewing the original paintings in person and viewing photographs that I have seen of them. Viewing the brushstrokes and subtle color nuances seen from 2 inches to 30 feet away, gave me a new understanding of the artists execution of a painting.
Monet was particularly entertaining. Up close the paint appears to be congested and spotty. As I backed away, the painting came alive with a feeling of atmosphere. Color is important in my current studies and the viewing of these paintings was like attending a workshop as I studied them.
Artists' paintings in the special exhibit include: Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Frederick Childe Hassam, John Singer Sargent to name a few.
The Institute also has a number of paintings in the permanent collection, including European and American Impressionist works by Alfred Sisley, Charles Daubigny, Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Pierre Renior among others.
If you live in driving distance, this exhibit should be on your to do list.
