Spanish Impressionism

Welcome once again,

This time, my way lead me to Valencia, Spain. I went to visit a friend and of course as part of my mandatory city discovering program several museums were on my plan. My first stop was the Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia. Beautiful, beautiful building by the way!

Apart from the permanent collections, there was a wing solely dedicated to a Valencia-born artist. Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923) exelled at painting portraits, landscapes and works of social and historic themes. The exhibition showed a wonderful selection of some portraits he painted, but also some social themes. He painted in an impressionistic way, very expressive and bold, with vibrant colors. This one, painted in 1900 of Count Artal, made me stand infront of that portriat for a very long time, which rarely happens, since portrait is not my favorite medium of painting.

I love how the picture is divided into different sections by the various lines and diagonals throughout. I love the format, I love the vivid, yet rather undefined background, i love the placement of the portrayed. Beautiful picture.

But another picture I couldn't take my eyes off, was "People in frock coats playing in a garden" which Sorolla completed in 1900.

Isn't it just breathtaking?? I have rarely seen an impressionist painting with so much life in it. The colors are so rich and lush, not only in the depicted nature but also on the people and their costumes. Incredible how Sorolla captured the early autumn sunlight shining through the tall trees and falling on the playful scene. It seems like you can almost smell the freshness of the leaves, the crispness of the air this scene takes place in. What you can't see here, is the format. The picture is actually really huge so it seems, like you're standing right infront of that scene, participating almost in the joyful play. And look at that detail!! 

A true masterpiece!!

Louis and Marc.

Friends of beautiful things,

I went to see an exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs that no girl, or man for that matter should miss. It's a tribute-exhibition for Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, two of the most influental and trendsetting individuals of their times.

The exhibition was organized chronologicaly, from the very beginning of the Vuitton-Emporium to the reign of Fashion-Superstar Marc Jacobs.

At first there was only a man and his brilliant idea to provide the proper packaging and transport for the new and upcoming fashion-craze. Louis Vuitton built suitcases, that fit entire wardrobes, toiletries and whatever else a true lady or gentleman needed at that time. He started his buisness for "articles de voyages - trunks and bags" in 1854 in Paris.

It was only Louis' son, Georges, who took the company further, and expanded into international business and created the famous LV monogramm that is stil used today.

The second part of the exhibition was a view on the current state of the Louis Vuitton Brand under Head-Designer Marc Jacobs. The concept of the upper floor was completely different from the traditional displays of the era of Louis Vuitton. It was flashy and poppy with videowall that show Jacobs' inspirations. And it even had a warning for parents at the beginning, that the material could be inappropriate for kids. Oh well...

It was mostly fashion, amazing handbags, purses, clutches etc, shoes and a history of Marc Jacobs' rise to one of the most important people in the fashion business today. No wonder, his creations, ideas and visions are magnificent and the displays were beautifully arranged and made every girls heart skip a beat.

It was weird, colorful, crazy and amazing - just as fashion today should be. At least that's my opinion. 

Let's get musical

Bonjour Mesdames, Messieurs,

Lately I've passed by the Opera of Paris, the Opera Garnier, several times. And the building always impressed me soo much and I always wondered how it must look like from the inside. Of course I know that Chagall painted the ceiling in the grand opera hall and that it must be one of the most beautiful things ever.

So once, I passed by the impressive building again and it just started to rain so I thought "Ok, so I'll check it out." I went in, paid my entryticket and headed to the main entrance. Magnificent. But that's not what I want to tell you about today...

The Opera also has exhibitionspaces and the current exhibition was on "La Belle époque de Massenet".

Jules Massenet was one of the most famous french composers and best known for his operas. During his lifetime (1842-1912) his works were very popular, since melodic music was very much in style. Massenet ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era. He reached to create an unique combination between art and music, since he wasn't only in charge of the music but everything that needed to be created for an opera. Costumes, sets, scenery etc.

The exhibition tried to give an overview of everything that Massenet had created, an entire new way of how opera was made! Scripts, notes, costumes, jewellery, stages and much more were displayed in a wonderful way! I always like it when alot of differnt things are shown to give you a complete view of a perticular thing. And I'm also alwys blown away by a persons ability to write music. It is a thing that I can not understand but I think it's the most amazing thing when someone can actually imagine and then write down entire operas. Incredible.

Here some pictures of my favorite pieces. As a woman I was of course drawn to the jewels, tiaras, crowns and beautifully embroided costumes. They were truly beautiful!

These are all parts of costumes for operas by Massenet and belong to Inventory of the Bibliotheque-Musée of the Opera Garnier. Especially the last picture, showing the helmet of Bacchus, the mythological god of wine and drunkenness, of the opera with the same name left me standing in awe for a couple of moments. The detail of the carvings and the detail in the form was amazing. Massenets love for melody and harmony isn't only manifested in his musical works, but also in the detail of every other aspect in his operas. And I think the exhibition did a great job displaying that. I loved it, and I love Massenets music!