One of my favorite places in the world is Room 205 at the Art Institute of Chicago.
If you ever have the time to spend in Chicago, I highly recommend a visit to
the Art Institute, right on Michigan Avenue. While there is much to see, I
tend to get caught in the Impressionist galleries. One room in particular.
. .
As you enter room 205, you’ll see a bench in the center of the room. Sit on the bench looking at the large park scene on the back wall. This is A Sunday on La Grande Jatte–1884 (1884-86) by Georges Seurat. I have literally sat on this bench and took in this scene for hours. As you look at this painting from the bench, please notice these elements:
 | See the moustache on the seated fellow with the cane and top hat. |
| Look closely at the face of the child in the center who is walking towards you holding her mother’s hand. |
| See how the man with the pipe is reclining in the grass? His arm is submerged in the blades of grass. |
| Notice the frame within the frame. |
While sitting, take a moment or two to look at every object in the painting – the leaves in the trees, the clouds, boats and the bouquet of flowers. Look at the child’s white dress. Have you noticed that no one’s face is fully illuminated by the sun?
Now let’s get up and walk over to the left side of the picture. As you get closer, the man with the moustache changes. You begin to loose sight of his eyebrow and mouth. As you move over to the child, all facial features are lost. The dresses of the seated women become puddles of color. In fact, the only thing you can see better this close is the horn being played by the man wearing a helmet.
Enjoy the other pictures in the European galleries of Rooms 205 and 206.
Then work your way to Room 236. There are two famous paintings next to each other in this gallery that share so many characteristics, but project very different images of community.
The paintings of Edward Hopper and Archibald Motley are both urban and
communal. They depict approximately the same time of night in the same city.
(They were painted within a year of each other.) Motley ("Nightlife"
1943) celebrates the urban experience, while Hopper ("Nighthawks"
1942) captures a sorrowful snapshot. What are they saying about life in
these communities? Also in this room is the famous 1930 painting "American
Gothic" by Grant Wood. Compare Grant to Gordon Parks’ 1942 photograph
also entitled "American Gothic".
Finally, if you’re up to it, don’t go down the circular stairway in Room
235 to 20th Century American Art. Instead, go back out to the main
lobby area (Room 200) and go down those steps. Head to Room 130 and walk into 20th
Century American Art through Rooms 131 – 135. Going this way gives you the
full impact of Andy Warhol’s "Mao" (1972).
Have a great time in Chicago!
http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.html
Last edited 02/16/03