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| EXHIBITION at the Fundación MAPFRE: "Impressionism. A new Renaissance" |
 The Musée d'Orsay is visiting Madrid. And the M'O chose the Impressionism as flagship of their artistic fleet. Not surprisingly, it's being an enormous success: long queues, crowded rooms, sold-out guided visits,... But, is it worth queing for 90 paintings out the many hundreds that you will see in Paris in about a year?Fundación MAPFRE. From 15/Jan/10 to 22/Apr/10 My answer is "yes". Sure, all the painting in the exhibition are not masterpieces that you will immediately recognize. Certainly, this is just a small selection. I admit, MAPFRE uses the magical appeal of Impressionism, yet features many artists that do not belong to the movement. True, the rooms are neither ideal for the display nor for the amounts of people visiting the exhibition. But, despite all that , and even if you have visited the Musée d'Orsay last year or plan to go after 2010, this exhibition presents a different (possibly unique) lecture on Impressionism, linking it to its time, to parallel artistic movements, and to scientific, social and political changes in 19th century France. Although the title "Impressionism. A new Renaissance" seems to be deliberately misleading, the exhibition successfully helps to understand Impressionism as a new commitment to reality (scientifically oriented even when ideologies get in their way) and not a formalistic evasion towards "art for art". The opportunity to revisit the masterpieces and to dive delightfully among the many minor works, would already be enough reasons to queue for any Madrilenian longing for Impressionism, but the unconventional approach to the subject further advises the art lover not to miss it. Probably you won't be allowed to "read" the collection the same way ever, not even at the Musée d'Orsay when the reforms end. Therefore, don't hesitate: go and see this exhibition, and, if you wish to make it unforgettable, plan a guided tour of it. |
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