365 Days at the Met

 September 5, 2022   I  walk into Gallery 811and see eight canvases - six nudes and two  hunting scenes - and I think to myself, “Why in the world are these hung together?” The answer: Seven of the eight are by Gustave Courbet, who was a prolific painter of both  subjects. The eighth painting is a “Birth of Venus” by Alexandre Cabanel. It appears here, I suppose, to make clear the differences between Courbet’s realistic approach to the nude and academic paintings of nude subjects. The latter were also erotic,  but that eroticism was "justified" by its association with classical mythology.  Notably, too, Cabanel painted Venus and the putti who hover over her with clear, precise brushstrokes.  In truth, I’m not enamored of Courbet’s nudes,  but I do appreciate his rejection of the academicians’ reliance on mythology. Instead, Courbet’s nudes just seem to be women enjoying themselves, especially as they bathe in running water.  Today’s work...

 September 1, 2022 Gallery 810 is one of the iconic galleries of the Met, a real jaw-dropper. Its 14 oil paintings include nine by Manet, and this in itself would make it worthy of note. The Manets are among the artist’s most celebrated works: “The Spanish Singer,” “Young Lady in 1866” (I always thought it was called “Woman With a Parrot,” which is what it depicts), “Mlle. V. in the Costume of an Espada,” “A Matador,” and “Dead Christ with Angels.” I had never realized that Manet used the same model for the “Young Lady” and “Mlle V.” paintings as for “Olympia” and “Le dejeuner sur l’herbe," nor that many of the characters in his paintings were professional models who posed in his studio.  On top of the Manets,  there are three wonderful portraits by Degas, a powerful portrait by Fantin-Latour, and an accomplished still life by Philippe Rousseau (yet another painter previously unknown to me).   This splendid collection of Manets, many of which were, I suppose,  d...