BellaOnline Forums Education Art Appreciation Seeing "real" art

I went to the Chicago Art Institute Friday to see the Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer special exhibits, and was blown away! You can look at all the good reproductions you like, but there is absolutely nothing like standing in front of a painting that you have never seen "in the flesh" before! First of all, the scale; they are way bigger than any print I've ever seen, and the colors are so bright and fresh - no photo can really catch the true colors. The surfaces are so alive, the oils catch little sparkles of light and the watercolors on rough paper have a depth I couldn't imagine before. Finally, there is the thrill of realizing that the artist had worked on that very surface, his DNA is in the paint!
There's nothing like the real thing!

I feel the same way. Reproductions just don't compare to the genuine piece of art. I totally agree with your remark: "There is the thrill of realizing that the artist had worked on that very surface, his DNA is in the paint!"

I am going to Chicago next month so I will need to see if I can work in a trip to the Chicago Art Institute.

I agree - actually standing in front of the original paintings does not compare to looking at reproductions or prints. I went to the Seattle Art Museum several years ago and was jus enthralled with the actual paintings.

Is there any work of art that you would like to see live? Mine is Micheangelos David and the Sistine Chapel.

I would love to see any of Michelangelo's work in person. He was fantastic!