FEELING THE ART?

Recently we went to see art at the Legion of Honor, the exhibit of paintings by Monet and Morisot — two French painters whose lives and art were interconnected. While I was enjoying the art itself, as always, I noticed and photographed people. That is something I can’t help doing.

At one moment, while I was sitting on a bench and enjoying the painting a woman about my age sat next to me. I found out that she and her daughter had come from New York. After we chitchatted a little, I asked her what she felt while looking at the image. I was not surprised that she seemed to lack words to express it. Then I asked the same question to her daughter. She was describing what she saw, not what she felt.

Of course, I cannot jump to conclusions based on my “experiment.” But still, I notice that many of us seamed do not take it deeper. Years ago, I read about a great photographer — who probably influenced my encounter style of taking images, Henri Cartier-Bresson. Toward the end of his life, he stopped photographing and started painting. Sometimes he would go to one of the museums and spend a long time sitting in front of a single painting. We never knew what he was experiencing, but what I gained from his work was the idea of experience instead of just looking. That continues to inspire me.

Meanwhile, above you can see three images of some of the art show visitors. Enjoy and share!