Rainy Day Art
New England weather can be unpredictable—as Mark Twain said, “If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.” In Boston, there are many rainy days this time of year and there's few better things to do than to visit a museum when it's cold and wet outside.Instead of sitting on my couch and binge-watching something on Netflix, that's exactly what I decided to do. I ventured out and spent my rainy day off from work at the Museum of Fine Arts. I’m not known for following maps or a floor plan, so I basically just wandered around for a few hours—looking at the Art of the Americas, Art of Europe, Contemporary Art, and the special exhibit “Make Way for Ducklings, The Art of Robert McCloskey.” If you are a fan of his famous children's book, I highly suggest checking out this exhibit. (It runs through June 18, 2017).I've been to the MFA countless times and every time I go back, I see a piece I haven't noticed before or I look at a painting in a whole new way. That's what is great about art...based on where you are in life and what mindset you are in, your feelings toward art can change. You may appreciate something now that you may not have enjoyed 10 years ago.
Max Beckmann’s 1947 Portrait of Euretta Rathbone is one painting that I don't recall seeing before. I love the color and the thick black outlines. Beckmann is a German painter who came to America in the 1940’s. This is the first portrait he painted in the United States.
Cocktails, 1926 by Archibald Motley softness and colors caught my eye. As the MFA label stated, the subject matter was provocative since the manufacture and sale of alcohol were illegal in the U.S. at the time this was painted.
I love this oil painting by John Singer Sargent. Rehearsal of the Pasdeloup Orchestra at the Cirque d’Hiver, 1879-80. The movement across the canvas is really cool—you can almost hear the music playing. It's worth going online to the MFA to see the paining in more detail.It was fantastic to see the sketches that Robert McCloskey did for his book Make Way for Ducklings. You can view a slideshow online or better yet, see the exhibit in person! My favorite sketch in the exhibit is the policeman with the ducks. I like the thick lines of the uniform and the visible difference between foreground and background.
Overall, I had a great rainy day at the Museum of Fine Arts! I definitely suggest a trip there next time you find yourself bored in Boston.The MFA is open seven days a week, with free admission to members. Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts is also free on Wednesday nights after 4pm. For more information on special pricing, visit online at www.mfa.org/visit.