Monday, October 24, 2016

Icones of modern Art, The Shchukin Collection, Fondation Louis Vuitton

Last Thursday I previewed the new Shchukin Collection brought in from Russia at Fondation Louis Vuitton.  The show is a tribute to one of the 20th century’s greatest patron of the arts, Russian businessman Sergei Shchukin, and brings together 130 major works from his collection. We were all dressed in black as is required for these events but by the end we were infused with brilliant color.
Icons of Modern Art will be on till February 20, 2017. It is a Must-see. More photos HERE.
On the first floor a room full of Tahitian period Gauguins. Your jaw drops. You won't recover from this glorious exhibit till hours later.
"I recently painted a chic nude, two women at the water's edge; I think it's the best thing I've done up to now." Paul Gauguin, 1892
Wealthy industrialist, Sergei Shchukin collected Matisse like mad and commissioned 'The Dance' from him. Matisse even visited him in Moscow to view the collection.
"The search for color did not come to me through studying other painters, but from outside - in other words, the revelation of light in nature." Henri Matisse, 1930
Multi-media videos were specially produced to tell how Shchukin developed his collection of French modern art and its influence on the Russian avant-garde. This is the first time ever these paintings have left the Pushkin and Hermitage state museums of Fine Art. A landmark exhibit of astonishing works.
There are 13 Monets. Here the cliffs of Etretat.
"Then, in London, what I love above all, is the fog...Because without fog London would not be a beautiful city." Claude Monet
Monet's extraordinary picnic painting.
His wife in their garden.
Sisley, a Seine view.
A classic Pissarro, 'rainy day, Paris'.
Shchukin was enthralled with Picasso. "Picasso took hold of me for good, and I began to buy painting after painting." Sergei Shchukin
An exquisite Odilon Redon.
Rooms of artist's self-portraits like this Gauguin.
The rooms inside the fondation are spacious and airy even though there are no windows in the exhibit areas.
Yet Shchukin's collection in his palace in Moscow was displayed side by side almost like reading a book with all the pages spread open.
Three floors of the Frank Gehry-Daniel Buren architectural creation are filled with the visiting collection.
"A color's transparency and quality when projected using a color filter is, is to me, far more vibrant than a color painted on a surface." Daniel Buren Some might disagree after seeing the Shchukin collection. Do try to catch this not-to-be missed experience.
Meanwhile the paint has been flying. I'm making new Paris pastry bonus watercolors to go out with renewals and subscriptions. Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast! If you like this post and want to support it, buy my Paris letters and watercolors or forward this to someone who might enjoy it. Cheers!

21 comments:

  1. My favorites..? Monet's and yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm...you can't have favorites with this collection.

      Each one is a gem.

      Delete
  2. Butch149:57 PM

    Thank you so much for this piece on the Russian exhibit at the Vuitton.........it was fabulous......as are all your blogs. We get to live our fantasies thru your wonderful artistic eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lucky, lucky you! Are the FLV building's colored panels temporary? I've never seen a picture of them in colors before.

    And where did you get the neat month-of-the-year stampers you use on the envelopes you send your Paris Letters and Paris Maps in? Love them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, I know Marge :)
      You can see more of the Icons of Modern Art collection pictures here on Flickr:
      https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=38242913%40N00&sort=date-taken-desc&text=Icons%20of%20modern%20art&view_all=1

      The new Daniel Buren colored panels are permanent.

      As for the French monthly rubber stamps, I bought mine in BHV's 2nd floor art supply dept. They come in a strip. You have to cut them apart and are made by Aladine
      http://www.rougier-ple.fr/tampon-mois-de-annee-3x30cm.r.html

      Delete
  4. Love your pastry paintings. The color is extraordinarily vibrant.. GREAT!!

    Love the. shchukin. blog, too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. so frustrating, went to Louis Vuitton for the first time at the end of Sept, was blown away by the building but sad to have missed this exhibition (by days) especially the Matisses.
    Lucky you to have got to the preview.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, I do love Sisley! What a wonderful exhibit -- so many I really loved here. And your painting, of course, always makes me smile.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What an amazing exhibit! I long to see the actual paint on canvas....and I wonder about those dresses at the picnic...dragging on the ground all over the place. How do they ever get them clean again?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my gosh Fantastic!! This makes me NEED a trip to Paris !!!! Wonderful!! I'll grab my black coat and be on the way!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kathleen H1:27 PM

    oh...this is one I would REALLY LIKE TO SEE!!!

    K

    ReplyDelete
  10. Carol, that exhibit is clearly a don't miss, must see. I have marked it down in my little notebook.

    Pleased to report that I have gotten out my watercolor brushes and paint and have begun creating my Christmas tea cup cards. All this and some Etsy stuff, too, is factoring into my travel plans. I have a feeling that Paris might have to wait 'til early 2017, but perhaps not. A lot is riding on what transpires on Nov. 8.

    Your painting looks fab. xo

    ReplyDelete
  11. It looks like a fantastic exhibit but I definitely do have favorites- Monet, Sisley, Pissarro and, of course I think your watercolors are spectacular.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Many years ago there was a hermitage exhibit that was at the Art Institute in Chicago I knew I had to go see. For me it was the Impressionists.to see these masterpieces from a country you know you may never have the opportunity again - made it even more special. You have got me again Carol. Wanting to walk in your shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fabulous, thank you for that post, most enjoyable.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow! What a collection, lucky you getting to see it in that colourful building. I just renewed my maps letters and hope I get one of those lovely pastry bonus watercolours - yum!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Winewalker5:43 AM

    Thanks for this. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Shchukin Lucky you!!!!! What a great show!
    Fantasizing about a quicky Jan visit.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love your watercolors, Carol - a great lead-in & exit for the main event; to me, the Monets.....unbelievably beautiful assortment from the master.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your watercolors! fabulous color blends!!

    ReplyDelete

Love hearing from you