Is the European Masters exhibition worth it?
020810 / 3 COMMENTS
European Masters: Städel Museum, 19th–20th Century
NGV Inernational until 10th October, 2010
Without a membership or pensioner discount, you will part with around $23. Now it could be argued that there is no question that inundating your senses with masterful art must be worth it. Artists are a biased group of course, having vested interest in the art world, but I wonder whether non-artists will be pleased with the experience.
By being a “selection” of a collection, this had to be an eclectic group of works. The NGV advertises that the Stadel Museum has loaned us the “highlights of its renowned collection” and although many of the artists presented were not in my list of masters (or for that matter, even heard of ) there are “at least” twenty well celebrated artists shown. But are there enough significant works by these artists to make this a “blockbuster”?
Of the big names - there is one example from each - Bonnard, Cezanne, Delacroix, Van Gogh, Manet, Picasso, Redon, Serusier and Sisley. A lone poweful life size bronze Eve (1881) by Rodin stands vulnerably in the centre of one of the gallery spaces, sadly often ignored for the two dimensional. There are two works from Monet and Degas, and three from Munch, Corot, Courbet, Renoir and later artist Klee. Significantly many of these are early and little known (till now) works. There certainly is something to learn from these pieces though and it should not be dismissed that we are invited to look at little-known (sometimes questionably attributed) work. If only to reassure us that these guys also had to start somewhere.
My impression (excuse the pun) is that some of the uncelebrated European artists outstripped some of the known. Johan Dahl’s The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in December 1820 (1826) is a dramatic and significant artwork. The mountain of smoke which takes up over half of the painting is purely sublime. It’s even a timely artwork in light of current volcanic rumblings on the planet. Dahl has painted two tiny observers looking unconcernedly at the fury only metres away.
The NGV speculates that “A high point is the presence of no fewer than ten works by Max Beckmann, the quintessential Expressionist artist.” Hey guys there are actually eleven works and clearly the works are interesting but by the time you work through all the other pieces, there is sadly little energy left at the end. Contentious among Beckman’s work is a piece called Double Portrait of two somewhat simply painted women – one the wife, and the other the mistress of his friend Swarenski. Neither woman knew of the other. Evidence of Beckman’s humour?
Going to this exhibition will give you a taste of many (maybe too many?) genres -Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Symbolism, Cubism, Dadaism and Surrealism. You will have a taste of the Barbizon school, the Leibl Circle (the naturalists), the anti-naturalists, the Nabis, the Bridge group, Degenerate art and the Worpswede colony. Or you can simply just go and enjoy some extremely interesting paintings and scupture. Be sure to look for Goethe’s two left feet. This exhibition isn’t a true blockbuster, but the high standard of many of the works clearly makes this winter sojourn worth it.
NOTE: Look for the children’s questions at the bottom of the painting profiles – well worth answering by adults too. And yes, you are allowed to sit on the comfie chairs in the connecting corridor and peruse the catalogue – how nice! Try also listening to the audio prior to the exhibition - go to www.ngv.vic.gov.au , “whats on”, “European masters”, and “exhibition explained” in the centre of the page. Excellent!
3 Responses to “Is the European Masters exhibition worth it?”
Hi Sue I have not been to this yet. But I am interested to compare with the Canberra "blockbuster"
The chartered flight to Canberra and the whole weekend
experience was very enjoyable, even if I didn't buy a starry night handbag!. Yvonne
Hi Sue, this is a beautifully written review and very well worth reading and digesting. I thought the exhibition was massive (and very tiring on the feet!). It was well worth the entry fee and I agree with many of your points.
Sue Raisin
030810 @ 105AM
Great exhibition that requires multiple viewings backwards and forwards through the space plus much time to read the synopses. The catalogue is definitely worth the money.