French Moderns at the Frick Museum
A Day in Pittsburgh before French Moderns at the Frick Museum
Greg and I spent some time exploring Pittsburgh before meeting up with friends. We checked out Fort Duquesne, where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers come together to form the Ohio River. We could feel the energy while the Pirates played the Brewers that day. Afterward, we walked through the Strip District, one of Pittsburgh's best-known areas for unique shops and markets, and grabbed a bite to eat before making our way to the Frick Museum.
World-class art up close and personal Matisse, Renoir, and Degas
The collection currently on display is French Moderns, featuring artists Matisse, Renoir, and Degas. Seeing paintings by so many of my favorite artists in person was one of those moments that stopped me in my tracks.
The exhibition featured works by Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet, Edgar Degas, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Henri Matisse, Berthe Morisot, Gabriel Mouret, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and my favorite, Auguste Rodin.
At the Frick Museum, I stood just inches from many of the paintings and sculptures. I took time to look closely at brushstrokes and the shapes formed by the chisel. The quiet, intimate galleries felt very different from bigger museums like the High Museum of Art. I was completely absorbed in the artwork. Art history was a big part of my Bachelor of Fine Arts; I took ten classes. The artists in the French Moderns are the ones I love and still fascinate me, years later.
I saw the work of Auguste Rodin, one of the artists I admire the most in the world. The following are some interesting footnotes regarding the exhibition, not complaints.
Les Nabis are my kind of people: art, every day life, symbolism, and a unique decorative style
I really admire Édouard Vuillard’s art, so I was disappointed he wasn’t part of the exhibition. His paintings show everyday life with gentle emotion and beautiful patterns. Vuillard belonged to Les Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist artists known for their decorative and symbolic style, which I love. Les Nabis had a big impact on later Modernism. Other members like Pierre Bonnard, Maurice Denis, and Paul Sérusier were also missing from the exhibit.
Vincent Van Gogh is another favorite of mine. In my senior year at Auburn, I spent a whole quarter studying him on my own. I chose Van Gogh because I admired how bravely he expressed his emotions. Visiting the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands and seeing his art in person was the highlight of my trip. Even though he was Dutch, he spent two years in France, where he learned and made art.
Stacy Jo’s final thoughts
I find it hard to keep track of how these artists are connected on the path to Modern Art. What I do know is where to find my favorites. Each artist had their own way of showing light, emotion, and reality. None of them painted exactly what they saw—they painted what they wanted to see.
The beauty of the artwork created by French Modernist painters seems to me almost musical, and I've made a playlist of songs that I hope you'll find enjoyable.
