Gustave Caillebotte

Gustave Caillebotte's CasinCaillebotte.Portraits à la campagne, 1867
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This is a favorite from a local collection.

Berthe Morisot

Berthe Morisot's Autoportrait, 1885
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Morisot is something else in the best possible reading of that phrase. Here's just one reason why, so I don't ramble: "Je ne crois pas qu'il y ait jamais un homme traitant une femme d'égale à égal et c'est tout ce que j'aurais demandé car je sais que je les vaux." - her diary

Roughly (I've not done translations in awhile): "I don't believe there's ever been a man who treats a woman as his equal and it's all that I will have asked for, because I know I'm worth them all."

She's so assertive and regal here. That gaze, that posture.

Le ballon rouge

Stills from Albert Lamorisse's Le ballon rouge, 1956
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I saw this in French class in middle school, it remains in my arsenal of smile-inducing media... and let's just be honest here, same goes for most any bebe animal photo blog.

Maurie Denis

Maurice Denis' Crépuscule, 1892
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I could post Denis ad nauseam.

Pierre Bonnard

Pierre Bonnard's Bowl of Milk, c. 1919

Emile Friant

Emile Friant's Les amoreux - soir d'automne, 1888

Emile Friant's Ombres portées, 1891

Ohhh, Friant & gestures! Interplay of looks, hands, body language.

Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas' Edmondo and Thérèse Morbilli, 1865
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Childe Hassam

Childe Hassam's Improvisation, 1899

Odilon Redon

Odilon Redon's Pandora, 1910/1912
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
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Yesterday I visited D.C. for the first time. I have wanted to visit Smithsonian collections since childhood, charmed by my imagination's view of the museums: quiet, secluded turn-of-the century neighborhood with lots and lots of trees and benches and museums arranged like puzzle pieces Certainly not the reality of the Mall, but I was not let down by the collections!

I start my MA Art History program next week, it's a good time for some updates!