Sunday I woke up with the intention of finally going to the Musee d’Orsay. First however, I needed to shoot the second-to-last photo for my assignment I’ve been working on, which meant taking the metro across the city (almost an hour commute) to go to Miranda’s new apartment. It was a lot of fun though and we had a nice morning before finally heading off to the museum.
This woman on the metro has Daenerys Targaryen hair!!
The weather was absolutely perfect and it actually did not rain the entire day, which I think was a first this past week. It wouldn’t have mattered that much because we spent a lot of time in the museum but it was still nice.
So, the d’Orsay. We started from the ground up, weaving our way through. I actually had my camera with me, but you’re not “supposed” to take photos there, so I only took phone pictures. I totally could have gotten away with my camera for the most part though. They only enforced the no photos rule in random places, like the van Gogh galleries. Oh well, I am definitely going back!
I’m Hugo!
I discovered a lot of new favorite paintings while I was there, and gained a new appreciation for so many I knew existed but never really looked at until I was standing right in front of them. A few of them I didn’t photograph but still wanted to include them so they’re reproductions I found on Google.
This painting is INTENSE. I really like it and was unfamiliar with it until now!
Dante and Virgil in Hell by Bourguereau
Sorry Botticelli, but I actually like both of these “Birth of Venus” paintings more than his. Is this terrible? Maybe it’s because during my first week of school I think every teacher used Botticelli’s painting for an example or assignment of some kind. It’s not bad of course, but I just like these better…
The Birth of Venus by Cabanel
The Birth of Venus by Bourguereau
I really liked the work by Gustave Guillaumet, particularly this painting Preire du soir dans le Sahara
The pastel Symbolist paintings by Redon were beautiful!
Can I please have a bejeweled winged crown thingie?
There were also so many works of art that I either forgot or didn’t realize were at the d’Orsay, so when I saw them I completely freaked out. It was really fun going with friends who for the most part equally freak out about art. Also most paintings are far larger than I am.
Cheesin’
I AM IN THE GRAVE!! (I yelled this a bunch)
Bonnard makes cool cats
A pleasant surprise.
I also had no idea that the d’Orsay had such an extensive collection of Art Nouveau decorative objects. This basically made it the museum of my dreams.
Just a whole room!!
My new bed.
I need a sink like this in my life.
We spent several hours making our way through the first two floors. We were pretty tired by the end, but had to get to the last floor because that’s where all the major Impressionist work is. Once we finally got there, they made the announcement that the museum was closing in 15 minutes. So we rushed through to quickly see Moulin de la Galette and Luncheon on the Grass before it closed. Obviously I’m going to have to go back because there’s still so much to see, and I think I missed a few paintings on the lower levels, too.
Way bigger than I thought it would be!
Miranda can’t contain her excitement.
After the d’Orsay closed, we were all craving good old American burgers and fries. I recently learned of a diner in Paris called Breakfast in America so we headed over there. It was amazing. We all gorged ourselves on burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Yes they have veggie burgers, my first in Paris! They also play what I guess they consider to be “American” music which was everything from Of Monsters and Men to Led Zeppelin. They don’t play music in French restaurants unless it’s a live musician, so this was a nice homey little touch. Also I had the song “Breakfast in America” stuck in my head the whole time. I wonder if they ever play it?
The milkshake I got is called Obama. It is peanut butter and chocolate. This is brilliant.
Avocado veggie burgers forever.
After this super amazing museum-filled weekend I’ve been looking up other artworks I want to see in case they are in Paris. Turns out a lot of them are in America. Go figure.
Oh yeah, and I officially have plane tickets to go to Florence the first weekend of November! I’m flying into Pisa and then taking a 70 minute shuttle to Florence, so I get to see a bunch of the Italian countryside as well. It seems so far off but I know it will be here all too soon. Except I also can’t wait. Ahh!!
An Art Student in Paris 