Vermeer Exhibit at the MFA

Before you think I am some sort of art expert, the reason why I even know who Vermeer is, is because I read "Girl with a Pearl Earring."  The reason why I knew about the book was because, even though I didn't see the movie, I watched Scarlett Johansson doing an interview on Charlie Rose in college, and of course, like everyone else in the whole entire world, had a celebrity crush on her.

So you could say that the reason why I had to see this exhibit is because of attraction to a hot woman. And in the end, that is why most men do things. BTW did you know Bank of America paid for one of the wings? Also I guess if you are a Bank of America or Meryll Lynch card holder you get to go to all these museums free across the country. Someone had asked me, "I thought the Museum is  always free?"  I was like, "What the hell are you talking about?" But I guess that's why. It's free for cardholders of that bank.

So if you are one of these people with a "Bank Card" whatever that is. Okay I guess a lot of people do have Bank of America cards.. just not me. I'm sort of a weird outlier when it comes to the modern world. But if you have one, check out this exhibit because it really is something special. I mean technically you have already paid for it because of whatever you have to pay Bank of America. And then they take a small portion of that money and sponsor museums. So go get your money back and look at this Dutch Painting exhibit. And guess what a big theme is? Class. Economics. Exchange. After all this time period is around the Tulip crisis right? 

But don't worry about all that. Just look at the paintings. They are special.

So special that actually, photography is not allowed inside the exhibit.

The theme is class distinctions. But in the beginning I didn't read the captions I just wandered. Portrait of rich guys, boring boring, stuff really got interesting when the lower classes were painted, fish sellers, bakers, prostitutes. There was on painting of a barber who was also doing treatment on someone's foot. Because at that time that was common, much like it is common in Chinatown for a Kung Fu and Lion Dance master, to do Teet Da medicine on someone's foot. The patient was paying with a dead rooster. Stepping into this exhibit, you actually stepped into Dutch life in the 1600's. Looking at the paintings, one of the inside of a Church where other people are looking at a grave sculpture the way I was looking at this painting, I began to understand the meaning of the expression "breathtaking", because I literally took a breath looking at it. No photograph could do these paintings (the ones in the back) justice. And the ones in the front were good too. But I had to circle back around to see those, but ultimately, their your typical portrait painting, except more skillfully done. I began to think of how awesome Europe was at this time, especially this small country that was starting to open up to Science and Trade. One of Vermeer's painting was of an astronomer. There were paintings of stuff being built. This exhibit is like what I envisioned my Chinatown blog to be, and all without photographs! Imagine how powerful these images were back then, when images were not everywhere. 

In an age of youtube videos being so common, this paintings from 400 years ago actually resonated even more with the modern Facebook type of world. In one glance so much is said. Granted the image took so long to create. But look how long it lasted too! And the physical feeling of walking through it, instead of scrolling your news feed, is kind of novel. 

This exhibit made me want to take of painting again. Not because I could be like Vermeer, but I realized how much you can say by creating an image. With a photograph, it is about timing, but how many times have I seen something and then taken a picture of it, and I felt that the camera was dishonest. It was not what I saw, and my eyesight is actually poor. And how many times have I seen a moment, and then the moment was gone?

But you can paint that moment. Of course maybe it will not be what you want. But the same could be said of my writing. At the very least I should start drawing again.

Another thing to mention about this, is that this world, I think is very much the world that Frozen and the Little Mermaid are based on, except you get more of a full picture from the exhibit since it isn't a children's cartoon. This, in a way, is the real version of Disney, the paintings are smaller than rides and statues, but they are painted by artists from that time period. What I am saying is that this will appeal to people who usually might not think of themselves as a museum person. I mean Hans Christian Andersen was Danish from the 1800's and Vermeer was Dutch from the 1600's, and Disney is modern, but I felt like, if you were into those Disney princesses, you might like looking at these paintings as an adult.

There is a playgroup at the MFA by the way. here is some of the baby's art.

And walking out I figured I might as well check out Art of the Americas. Here are some founding fathers. After looking at the Dutch stuff, these paintings, which came 100 years later... I mean can I say this? Meh. Why does Sam Adams look all out of proportion? Is that how he looked or is it the painter? But then again, I probably could not do better.

And we really are who we are. I mean look at this painting. It totally says Fox News to me. 

Grandiose, crass. 

Full of ourselves... not compared to Asia and Africa, but even a rich European Country that founded New York. It made me want to duck back over to the pictures of Haarlem. Instead I went to the art of Europe. 

This is actually funny. This Guan Yin and Child, was made in Germany, based on a Fujian Guan Yin and child shipped there, which was based on a Madonna and child shipped to Fujian from Europe. 

See, this mixed culture goes way back.

Here are some cool instruments from Italy. Kind of wanted to play them.

This caught my eye in the British section.

Holy Crap a Picasso? I forgot these were here. 

How what's going on here? Rape and war.

I think when I start to paint, this is what I will be going for. Pencil and ink. Not saying I can do it like him. Just saying those are the tools I'll be using. 

Matisse. A favorite of mine. But these were not breathtaking the way the stuff I saw in DC of his were. 

But I just wanted to compare those two nudes.  Way different.

This was cool.

African Metal work. Shao would love to get his hands on all of these things.

And more cool instruments. 

And then I really had to go. My head had absorbed too much. I was tired. But Oh man Art of Asia?

This is a modern piece. Thought it was cool. 

I also walked by modern art and photographs. I felt a pang because I though of some photographs my friend had taken of me meditating at the old Moh Goon. Before it was just a picture of my life. But now... well that Moh Goon is gone. Where is the picture? I hope I didn't lose it in the move out...I 'm feeling another pang now as I think of my mother's desk she made... But I have somethings. And that's why this blog and my Chinatown Blog are important. We need more artists. A lot of Chinatown's artists are not painting the everyday stuff, the chicken seller, the vendor. The paint China. Not Chinatown. Photographers too. I wonder where is Li Li Yuan. She had an artists eye. What is she photographing now? I see artists post stuff on Facebook. But Chinatown and the Chinatown Blog needs artists. And I hate that my pictures with my posts are not up to par, and neither are the art work that is only activist. 

That is what was special about the Dutch exhibit. Maybe there was something being said politically. I mean painting a prostitute exposing her chest (and not some sort of porno ideal of a woman. This is a real woman with not to great teeth.) was probably out there back then. Heck, it's out there now. She was no Victoria Secret model. Plus the art isn't that out there. It's not like Picasso's nudes. I can understand it. Anyone can understand it. We need that in Chinatown, because all the photos being taken now and paintings painted are not from people really trying to capture it. 

In any case, check out the Dutch exhibit at the MFA. It's not going to be there forever. It's temporary, and it's worth it. It really is like walking their streets and markets, and going into their houses and churches and their exchange (version of Wallstreet I guess?) Seriously Do it. It's totally worth it. Bring a date, and impress them with you high brow ness. But honestly, this exhibit really is about everyday life it's so common and yet so great. 

Again, it's so special that photography is not allowed, and maybe there is a reason for that.

You know, looking at these paintings makes me pissed that they have not recovered Rembrant's Sea Scape yet. I mean if you think about it, these paintings are only special when they are in Museum's that's where they belong. And museum's belong to us. What's the point of it being kept (probably in disrepair since it's held by criminals not conservators treating it so gently and at the proper temperature) man whoever stole that stole history.. for what? They're probably dead too. A loose end. bumped off. What do you think? Well this exhibit is here so go see it and tell me what your experiences looking at, or creating art, in the comments below. And don't forget to share my post. If everyone shared my post, my readership would double. So just click share.