Dutch Impressionism: An impressive exhibit at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum
The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum, formerly known as the Polk Museum, is currently undergoing construction across from the public library. Yet it is still worth a visit prior to the opening of the second floor, given the wonderful exhibit of impressionism from the Hague currently on display.
The Hague, a Dutch art school known for famous students like Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondrian, was the center for impressionism during its reign in the 19th and 20th century, and rightfully so. A look around shows a diverse glance at the variety of Dutch life and society. One painting depicts a well-textured donkey standing outside a pen, another a group of ladies coalescing around a park bench with their fancy upper class attire. Still another shows a cozy group of trees where cows are laying down to rest, and one more a warm assortment of people in the marketplace.
It could be said that impressionistic style is the quintessential image of quality art post-photography. In the absence of demand for realistic portraits, freedom came to the next generation of artists to experiment, and experiment they did. They strove to represent the real without realism, and detail without detail. They strove to represent the human experience. What we are left with is a deep understanding of the light and shadows that make up a moment, and the brilliant colors and textures that bring it to life.
It can be said, then, that impressionism was the starting point of something completely new in artistic expression. Both Van Gogh and Mondrian went on to find their own artistic movements after they left the Hague. Though their art is not on display at the AGB, the beginning of their inspirations can be seen in the brief strokes of other Hague students, such as Jacob Maris, Willem de Zwart, and Cornelis Kuijpers, all talented impressionistic painters currently on display.
Aside from the Hague exhibit, the museum also currently features three detailed brass sculptures by famed Auguste Rodin, a French sculptor known for The Burghers of Calais. In addition, there is an intriguing collection of traditional African and Pacific art and artifacts, which includes masks, tools, and other cultural symbols.