I went to MOMA a couple weeks ago when I was in New York and I remember telling my friend “You know, Monet is a bit overrated—“ and then I stepped into the room with his paintings on the wall, and immediately stopped talking. It took my breath away.

MPmoma.bsky.socialOct 13, 2024 8:09pm

Claude Monet, Water Lilies, 1914-26 https://botfrens.com/collections/14377/contents/1135774

You remind me, I went to a traveling Picasso exhibit some years ago with a friend who was an Art History major. We stood there looking at Figure at the Seaside when I turned to my friend and quietly said, “I don’t know, I’m looking at this and all I see are two dinosaurs making out.” It got a laugh

The best things in life are free but you can keep them for the birds and bees Just give me Monet <that's what I want!>

I saw a Monet exhibit in Atlanta many years ago and seeing his works in person blew me away.

That happened to me at the Musee d'Orsay. Absolutely blew me away.

I went to the MFA in San Antonio awhile back when they had a Superheroes exhibit. Walked around a corner and gasped when I saw the Rockwell Rosie the Riveter. I'd never seen any of his work in person and did not expect it.

I hear the same is true of Rothko. If you're ever in Chicago, do go see La Grand Jatte (Sunday in the Park with George) in person. Astonishing at full scale.

Yeah.. I remember turning a corner in the Musee D'Orsay and seeing his Lilies.. just phenomenal.

I saw Water Lilies at the London National Gallery a few weeks ago and what struck me was the size. Textbooks never give you a sense of scale. I had no idea it was such a massive painting. Conversely, there were a lot of paintings I didn't realize were so small.

Starry Night did that to me.

a painting of a starry night with a church in the background

ALT: a painting of a starry night with a church in the background

Overrated is the Mona Lisa 🙂