Saturday Afternoon at the Art Institute of Chicago

“Impressionism means taking inspiration directly from nature, trusting your senses rather than what you think you know.” — Michael McClure

Half-priced train tickets and the final week of this awesome Impressionism exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago compelled me to spend Saturday afternoon in Chicago. Starting with Caillebotte’s rainy Paris street and ending with Seurat’s Sunday in the park, it was my own Ferris Bueller moment. If only I hadn’t forgotten about the Chagall windows — next time!

These photos represent my favorites in the collection. I love this floral close-up, but I can’t remember which painting it was. Can anyone help me out?

Paris Street; Rainy Day (Gustave Caillebotte, 1877)

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grande Jatte (Georges Seurat, 1884-1886). Click here for my close-ups à la Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Little Dancer Aged Fourteen (Edgar Degas, 1879 - 1881)

Three Studies of a Dancer in Fourth Position (Edgar Degas, 1879-1880). Click here for more of my Degas dancer photos.

Water Lilies (Claude Monet, 1906)

Click here for more of my photos of the Monets at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Two Sisters | On the Terrace (Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1881).

Click here for my of my Renoir photos at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Women at Her Toilette (Berthe Morisot, 1875-1880)

I love Morisot’s diagonal signature (and taking photos of artists’ signatures :)

Ballet Dancers (Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, 1885-1886)

Eve (Auguste Rodin, 1881) + Water Lily Pond (Claude Monet, 1893)

Sleepy Nicolle (Mary Cassatt, 1900)

Bedroom in Arles (Vincent Van Gogh, 1888)

I went for the Impressionists, but was happily surprised to spot these Frank Lloyd Wright architectural elements.

Great socks!

Funny Ferris T-Shirts

Cheers to a great afternoon in Chicago!

Art Institute of Chicago - Impressionism: Monet

“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” — Claude Monet

Is this a Monet? I can’t remember, but it’s my favorite photo of my day at the Art Institute.

Monet’s Water Lilies are my favorite. Next time I’m in Paris, I plan on visiting them in the Orangerie.

Art Institute of Chicago - Impressionism: Les Danseuses (Degas to Lautrec)

“People call me the painter of dancing girls. It has never occurred to them that my chief interest in dancers lies in rendering movement and painting pretty clothes.” - Edgar Degas

I only took ballet for a few years when I was a little girl, but I still love the grace, the costumes, the shoes…Perhaps that is why I always return to Repetto when I’m in Paris.

Evolution of Dance from Degas to Toulouse Lautrec

Art Institute of Chicago - Impressionism: Renoir

“Why shouldn’t art be pretty? There are enough unpleasant things in the world.” — Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Renoir is famous for saying, “One morning, one of us ran out of black; it was the birth of Impressionism.” While it’s true that bright colors are the focus and very little black is used in Impressionism, it is Renoir’s juxtaposition of pastels with deep, almost-black blues that makes him my favorite Impressionist.

Art Institute of Chicago - Pointillism: Seurat

“The inability of some critics to connect the dots doesn’t make pointillism pointless.” - Georges Seurat

Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte (A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte), Seurat 1884

Doesn’t everybody do this?

Summer Saturday in Chicago

“It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago. She is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time.” - Mark Twain "Life On The Mississippi," 1883

This time she was rosé on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building with views as far as the eyes could see, a long walk down The Magnificent Mile, along the Chicago River, and through the theatre district, an amazing performance of Hamilton, and drinks at the Palmer House.