The Barnes and Glackens Show

Went to the Barnes Foundation yesterday. Thrilled to have learned of it and visited before it--and we--move. If you haven't seen The Art of the Steal yet, you should. It is less about the art and more about the "steal," but you still get a sense of how important the Barnes collection is.

After watching the movie, my blood was boiling to think of how Dr. Barnes' will was disrespected for the sake of some tourism dollars. But after visiting, I am more sympathetic to the cause of those who wanted to bring the art to Philly proper. Not to the way it all was handled; there were definitely some shady dealings along the way. But this art deserves to be seen. So, in a sense, I am glad that it will be easier for more people to see it.

Barnes' collection of Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse is incredible. He also has quite a number of Henri Rousseau's paintings (love!). Rousseau's influence on Frida Kahlo is quite striking.

But I discovered a new artist that I am quite taken with--William Glackens.

Here he is with his daughter, Lenna. Glackens was a Philadelphia school chum of Dr. Barnes and was instrumental in selecting the first 20 or so pieces of art that became the Barnes Foundation. But he was an illustrator and painter in his own right.

I was first taken with his landscapes, but really enjoy his portraits, too. As he furthered his career, his use of color became more brilliant.