CLAIRE’S ART EDIT
Uncover the canvas of Paris
JOURNEY through the ART LANDSCAPE of PARIS
Welcome to "The Art Edit," your ticket to the captivating art scene in Paris. Here, I will bring you the finest creations I chose for the week, with an emphasis on accessibility and appreciation – no art degree required. I take all photos of the art featured with my phone and are within exhibits I personally attend. Join me in discovering all the visual delights I find for us!
Caillebotte: Painting Men MUSÉE D’ORSAY 10/08/24 to 01/19/24
Currently on display this fall/winter is this once-in-a-generation curation of Gustave Caillebotte’s {1848-1894} paintings together in the incredible galleries of the Orsay in Paris. I went one morning to document these paintings and I truly did not know what was in store and completely in awe of how many there were, the majority of which are in PRIVATE collections! Snapping away with my phone, I want to share with you a must-see exhibit if you are coming to Paris in the near future.
Caillebotte - 1892 “Autoportrait” A famous work of his, this was painted a few months before his sudden death at age 45; he chose to depict himself in a sailor’s suit like many regatta racers instead of the wealthy artist and patron that he was. This lives in the Orsay normally and was acquired with funds from an anonymoius Canadienne in 1971
Organized generally in chronological order and by subject matter, each room represents a stage of his career and details his journey, many stages of which were unbeknownst to me! Independently wealthy by age 26 having inherited his father’s fortune, Gustave passionately became a patron for the Impressionists and they inspired him to become a painter himself. I will include some of my favorites below with little blurbs about them so as not to overwhelm you!
Caillebotte - 1876 “Déjeuner” (right, detail above) Sharing a bit of family domestic life here, we see his brother slicing meat, and their butler serving his mother, Céleste. The painter is essentially an observer here and the figures are downplayed in comparison to the light hitting all the crystal serveware.
Caillebotte - 1890 “La Berge du Petit Gennevilliers et La Seine” (detail inset) This likely decorative piece was a gift from the artist to his brother Martial for the birth of his daughter and designed for his apartment on Rue Scribe. The boys are Gustave’s neighbors children and represent him and his brother’s childhood.
Caillebotte - 1878 “La Caserne de la Pépinière” (left with detail) and 1880’s “Boulevard des Italiens” (right with detail) are both in private collections and highlight his fascination with vanishing points, off center perpectives, and of course, light! I love comparing these two side by side as well to see the varying times of day, the shadows, and the building details.
Caillebotte - 1878 “La Pêche à la Ligne” (left) and “Les Baigneurs” (right) are also both in private collections and continue his observation of provençal life and everyday water-leisure activities. His cousin Zoé is the only female in the scenes, observing everyone else.
Caillebotte - 1886 “Les Roses, Jardin du Petit-Gennevilliers” (left, details right) is again in a private collection. This beautiful “plein-air” work shows his friend Charlotte Berthier and her little dog - she lived with Caillebotte for a long time and she received an annuity and a small house upon his death. No one is quite sure of their relationship, as the painter was private and there’s speculation he preferred men’s company romantically but again, there’s no real evidence of this!
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