by Leslie Thompson | 5 October 2010 | Museums
When you hear “Impressionism” you think of French masters like Renoir or Monet, right? A current exhibition at the MFAH reminds us that the movement thrived in Germany as well (although 20 years after its inception in France). German Impressionist Landscape Painting focuses on the paintings of the group’s “triumvirate” – Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth, and Max Slevogt. While similar in style to the French, these examples of German Impressionism display a Deutschland spirit, at times evident in the landscapes depicted or the use of darker hues.
In a nearby gallery, the MFAH has intelligently organized an intimate exhibition of drawings of Liebermann, Corinth, and Slevogt. This juxtaposition allows viewers to experience the artists’ translations from creative beginnings to finished masterpiece.
Even to a student of art history, this exhibition was a revelation. What other art treasures is Europe hiding?
Personal rant: I hate it when museums frame their paintings in glass. Noticed it among the works on loan from European museums. Why?