Art Detectives

Top of the Day: Wedding - Romans Suta, 1928 Today's Artwork: Café-Concert at Les Ambassadeurs - Edgar Degas (Hilaire Germain Edgar de Gas, dit) -- link -- View of Le Crotoy from Upstream - Georges Pierre Seurat, 1889 -- link -- The Flageolet Player on the Cliff - Gauguin, Paul, 1889 -- link -- Four Ballet Dancer on Stage - Edgar Degas, 1885 - 1890 -- link -- The Old Town Hall in Granada - Mariano Fortuny, 1873/1873 -- link -- Leapaway girl - Ian Scott, 1969 -- link -- Wedding - Romans Suta, 1928 -- link -- ​Started off as a typical random day but we ended up looking at a lot of the colorful plates of  Romans Suta .

Top of the Day: Netsuke Today's Artwork: Ifa Divination Vessel: Female Caryatid (Agere Ifa) -- link -- Netsuke -- link -- Maunder's Fish Shop, Chelsea - James McNeill Whistler, 1890 -- link -- Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation - Eduviges Y. Huang -- link -- ​This wonderful little devil started our day as we delved into the artists world of Ivory.  Click for the Little Devil! Go to link: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/oni-unknown/lwG1q210uM8XTQ - Change - Remove

  Top of the Day: The Mind Boggling Artistry of China's Ivory Puzzle Balls -- link --  Chinese Puzzle Ball 16 inner balls --  link  --  Puzzle Ball -- link --  Example Chinese Puzzle Balls -- link --  A Rare 19th Century Ivory Puzzle Box -- link --  Square puzzle box -- link --  Wood and Ivory Netsuke, The Dream of R ō sei, carved by Kagetoshi, 1800/1850 -- link --  Ivory Sculpture (Baset of Flowers), circe 1900 -- link --  Ikkosai, Three Monkeys Playing with Deer, Edo (1615-1868) or Meiji (1868-1912) -- link --  Evening Dress, c 1866 -- link -- 

Top of the Day: You Are Nothing - Sara Gertsman, 2020 Today's Artwork: The Portrait of the Man - Ruslan Sosiev -- link -- You Are Nothing - Sara Gertsman, 2020 -- link -- Descent into Hell with Deesis and Selected Saints. Pskov - Unknow, Late 14th century - mid. 15th century -- link -- The Railroad and the House - Aleksey Barov, 2020 -- link -- Knight at the Crossroads - Victor Vasnetsov, 1882 -- link -- Grotesque - Vadim Muzyka, 2018 -- link -- ​Today we went to the State Russian Museum.  The art was a wide variety of different styles and was a lot of fun.

As part of our Halloween celebration, we looked at masks from all around the world. In keeping with our Halloween-ness, some of the links below are of spooky things of which the art made us think!  Our Top of the Day is this wonderful Shiva mask from India. This link has more info about the mask -- link --  Artist with Handcrafted Kali Masks, 2019 -- link --  An article about the significance of Kali's tongue -- link --  Gene Simmons Tongue Bottle Opener! Clearly inspired by Kali's tongue -- link --  Mukha Khel, Artist from Kushmandi, 2019 -- link --  Charida Mask, Dharmendra Sutradhard, 2019 -- link --  Mask (Pwoom Itok), Unknown, Late 19th Century -- link --  The Pwoom Itok mask (above) reminded some of us of the Bene Gesseret from David Lynch's 1984 Dune film -- link --  Dog with Human Mask, Unknown, 200 B.C. - A.D. 500 -- link --  The Meso-American Dog with Human Mask (above) made us think of the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, directed by Phil

Top of the Day: untitled - Juan Danna, 2013-01-01 - 2013-01-01 Today's Artwork: The Good Samaritan - Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn), 1633 -- link -- Shipbuilding on the Clyde: The Furnaces - Spencer, Stanley (Sir) (RA), 1946 -- link -- Ten mean net block sat turd day king fish - killingwithcuteness, unknown -- link -- Ten mean net block sat turd day king fish - killingwithcuteness, unknown -- link -- The Forest of Arden - Albert Pinkham Ryder, 1888–97 (?), reworked 1908 (?) -- link -- The Golden Age - Medardo Rosso, 1886/1887 -- link -- Karin by the shore - Carl Larsson, 1908 -- link -- Karin by the shore - Carl Larsson, 1908 -- link -- Karin by the shore - Carl Larsson, 1908 -- link -- Shoes for Departure - Marina Abramović, 1991/1991 -- link -- Plastic Bag from Pop Shop Tokyo - Keith Haring -- link -- "In my heart" - Shamsia Hassani, 2014 -- link -- Faaturuma (Melancholic) - Paul Gauguin, 1891 -- link -- Helle Luft (Clear Air) - Kandinsky

Top of the Day: Daughter of Esan (fourth generation) - Marcellina Akpojotor, 2018 Today's Artwork: First World Problems Third World Edition I - Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, 2018 -- link -- Coffee Cure I - Soji Adesina, 2015 -- link -- Daughter of Esan (fourth generation) - Marcellina Akpojotor, 2018 -- link -- Landscape Black - Ayoola Omogbolahan -- link -- After finding so many wonderful pieces in the Rele Arts Foundation yesterday, we dove into this fantastic museum to see more!  Our Top of the Day is part of a series of mixed-media pieces that Marcellina Akpojotor created to honor five generations of women in her family: Marcellina Akpojotor, Daughter of Esan (first generation), 2018 --  link  --  ​Marcellina Akpojotor, Daughter of Esan (second generation), 2018 --  link  --  ​Marcellina Akpojotor, Daughter of Esan (third generation), 2018 --  link  --  ​Marcellina Akpojotor, Daughter of Esan (fourth generation), 2018 (Top of the Day above!) Marcellina Akpojotor, Daughter

 Zenobia introduced us to Nigerian artist Tonia Nneji and wewere bowled over by her use of color and form.  Top of the Day is The Way It Is (III) from 2019 -- link --  Tonia Nneji, Long Quiet Night, 2019 -- link --  Tonia Nneji, While We Wait 2 -- link --  Tonia Nneji, Whispers, 2019 --  link  --  Write up about Tonia Nneji from Rele Gallery, Los Angeles --  link  --  "In the art of Tonia Nneji and Zohra Opoku, Poignant Narratives of Healing," from Vogue, Nov 2020 -- link --  Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, Sitting Pretty Keeping Mum, no date -- link --  REWA, Nnuku Nwanne Obele Nwanne, 2019 -- link --  Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, Real Housewives of Old Oyo-Aja, 2018 -- link -- 

 Thanks to Ruth for introducing us to this master's beautiful work!  Top of the day is  Un jeune pecheur a Doulan  (no date) which many of us thought looked like Prince Harry though it was likely painted one hundred years prior to his arrival!  And here's a pic of young Prince below for comparison.  Animated Landscape , 1887  -- link -- Young Boy in Front of the Sea, no date -- link --  Le séchage du linge à Beni Ounif , 1909  -- link --  More of Marie Aimée Lucas-Robiquet's wonderfully rich work -- link -- 

Top of the Day: The Painter at His Easel - Honoré Daumier, circa 1870 Today's Artwork: Fish Magic - Paul Klee, Swiss, 1879 - 1940, 1925 -- link -- The Painter at His Easel - Honoré Daumier, circa 1870 -- link -- Swoon, London - Swoon, 2012 -- link -- Self-Portrait - Paul Gauguin, 1889 -- link -- A Woman in Bed - Rembrandt van Rijn, 1647 -- link -- Sticky 5 - Rai Cruz, August - September, 2011 -- link -- Series I, No. 10 - Georgia O'Keeffe, 1919 -- link -- ​Today's blog "Moon over Abiquiu" was named in honor of the Georgia O'Keeffe painting (thanks Ruth)

Top of the Day: Parakeets and Gold Fish Bowl - Louis Comfort Tiffany, about 1893 - about 1893 Today's Artwork: Face 4 - Ahn, Chang Hong and 안창홍, 2007 -- link -- Parakeets and Gold Fish Bowl - Louis Comfort Tiffany, about 1893 - about 1893 -- link -- Passing Shower on a Spring Afternoon - Jasper Francis Cropsey, 1846 -- link -- 'Tulip' printed cotton - Morris & Co., 1875-81 -- link -- Haneda - Artist: Takahashi Shotei, Publisher: S. Watanabe Color Print Co., 1921.9 -- link -- Fruit Still Life with Shells and Tulip - Ast, Balthasar van der, 1620 -- link -- ​

Top of the Day: Portland Street Today's Artwork: Alone in Green - Antonio Henrique Amaral, 1973 -- link -- At the Cerro de la Bufa - Manuel Herrera Cartalla, ca. 1960 -- link -- The Farewell - Harriet Backer, 1878 -- link -- Wilderness Home - Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1924 - 1925 -- link -- Jade Restaurant, 2014 -- link -- Forest Festival - Wilhelm von Diez, 1880 -- link -- Compendio di storia universale - Max Ernst, 1953 -- link -- Rechnender Greis (Old Man Counting) - Paul Klee, 1929 -- link -- Portland Street -- link -- ​No assigned artwork today, just a stroll through the artwork.

 (In Process)

Top of the Day: The Voyage of Life: Youth - Thomas Cole, 1842 Today's Artwork: The Voyage of Life: Youth - Thomas Cole, 1842 -- link -- Giant - Mark Bradford, 2007 -- link -- Honoré Daumier, Street Scene with a Mountebank Playing a Drum, a drawing in pen and watercolour over black chalk, 1865/1870 -- link -- Four Panels from Untitled B/D - Jasper Johns, 20th Century -- link -- Te Faruru (They are Making Love Here) - Paul Gauguin, 1894/1895 -- link -- ​We had some related paintings that we looked at today.   First was 2 from Thomas Cole's Voyage of Life The Voyage of Life: Manhood The Voyage of Life: Old Age And from Jasper Johns' Four Panels from Untitled Four Panels from Untitled C/D Four Panels from Untitled A/D Four Panels from Untitled D/D

Top of the Day: The Lovers - Marc Chagall, 1929 Today's Artwork: Casas in Alto - Xul Solar, 1922 -- link --  Ña Diáfana - Xul Solar, 1923 -- link --  Pegaso del Sol - Xul Solar, 1922 -- link --  Tú y Yo - Xul Solar, 1923 -- link --  Dos Parajes - Xul Solar, 1923 -- link --  Inspired - Marc Chagall, 1963 -- link -- The Lovers - Marc Chagall, 1929 -- link -- ​Today we had technical difficulties & we lost Greg part way through the meeting.  Greg was showing art from Xul Solar & Jerry filled in with a little more random Chagall. Thankful we had Jerry as backup today -- he created this whole system and without him it wouldn't be nearly as organized & fun. Greg is out in a remote area of Western Massachusetts in two different locations: one with perfect Wifi, one with NOT!!! Thanks everyone for your patience! We so enjoyed exploring Xul Solar -- Zenobia's find! 

Top of the Day: Champs de mars (Field of Mars) - Marc Chagall, 1954/55 Today's Artwork: Leaning over Flowes - Marc Chagall, 1927 -- link -- Champs de mars (Field of Mars) - Marc Chagall, 1954/55 -- link -- Jew with Torah - Marc Chagall, 1925 -- link -- Moses shows the Tables of the Law, from the Book of Exodus - Marc Chagall, 1966 -- link -- Bride and Groom with Sleigh and Red Rooster - Marc Chagall, 1957 -- link -- Violonista - CHAGALL Marc (1887-1985), 1938 -- link -- ​

Our Top of the Day is the whole exhibition of the duo magnifico,  Dario Canul & Cosijoesa Cernas -- also known as Tlacolulokos  OaxaCAlifornia  -- link --  OaxaCAlifornia Dreaming, L.A. library article -- link --  Tlacolulokos,  Wherever You May Go/A Donde Quiera Que Vayas, 2017   -- link --  Tlacolulokos,  And That Is How They Hid the Sun/ Y fue así como escondieron el sol, 2017 -- link --  Tlacolulokos,  The Angels Sing Their Praise to God/ Los Angeles cantan y alaban a Dios, 2017. -- link --  Tlacolulokos,  For the Pride of Your Hometown / Para el orgullo de tu pueblo (Gal rabenee ladxuu), 2017  -- link --  Tlacolulokos,  The Way of the Elders / Por el camino de los viejos (Ra galumbanuu xhten guccran nii), both of them from 2017  -- link --  Tlacolulokos,  Smile now, Cry later/ Sonríe ahora, llora después, 2017  -- link --  Tlacolulokos , Remember that the World is Mine/ Recuerda que el mundo es mío, 2017  -- link --  Tlacolulokos,  The Size of Your Suffering/ El tamañ

Top of the Day: Resting - Claude Clark, 1944 Today's Artwork: Off for the Honeymoon - Pedro Figari, 1918 - 1925 -- link -- A Farm in Brittany - Paul Gauguin, ca. 1894 -- link -- Resting - Claude Clark, 1944 -- link -- Monk - Alphonse Mucha, 1897 -- link -- Woman with a laundry basket - Duane HANSON, 1974 -- link -- ​

Yesterday we fell in love with a linocut by Mr. Fuentes (see the 2nd to last entry on this blog) so we leapt to his website to see more of his exquisite artistry. His work spurred lively conversations about the tragedies perpetrated against the Hispanic community in Bisbee Arizona, the exodus of the Jews to Central America during the Spanish Inquisition, hidden Jewish communities in the Americas, and copper skull enameling. We talked a great deal about Día  de los Muertos -- and exploring the traditions in future shows.  Top of the Day is El Sueño Despierta , 2013 a combo of linocut & screenprint  -- link --  Juan R Fuentes, Frida's Rings, 2020 -- link --  Juan R Fuentes, Los Inocentes, 2011 -- link --  Juan R Fuentes, Recuerdos, 2011 -- link --  Juan R Fuentes, Baghdad Playground, 2006 -- link --  Please feel free to peruse his website to see more of his work as well as mixed media pieces, posters, etc. -- link --  Here's the linocut from yesterday's meeting that

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, today we looked at the varied, exciting artwork of  Amalia Mesa Bains as well as a related piece by Felicia Rice & a linocut by Juan Fuentes.  Top of the Day is the front view of Cihuateotl with Mirror which was originally titled Mother Nature (see the link below where there's a front & back version)  Amalia Mesa-Bains, New World Wunderkammer (main installation piece), 2013 -- link --  Amalia Mesa-Bains, Cabinet of Curiosities: New World Wunderkammer (installation left section), 2013 -- link --  Amalia Mesa-Bains, Cihuateotl with Mirror (view from the front), 1997 -- link --  Amalia Mesa-Bains, Cihuateotl with Mirror (back view), 1997 -- link --  Detail from Nuestros Antepasados digital print -- link --  (Another View) Nuestros Antepasados print for "Califas: The Ancestral Journey / El Viaje Ancestral" -- link --  Felicia Rice, Califas: The Ancestral Journey / El Viaje Ancestral, 2020 --  link  --  Juan Fuentes, Luis de la

  Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a visit to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque Mundos de Mestizaje, Frederico Vigil, ten years to create, opened in 2021 -- link --  Mundos de Mestizaje, Frederico Vigil, ten years to create, opened in 2021, more views -- link --  Mundos de Mestizaje, Frederico Vigil, video -- link --  Póla López,  No soy adorno de capota (I Am Not a Hood Ornament), 1997 -- link --  Eric J. Garcia, Tamale Man, 2005 -- link --  Eric J. Garcia, Tamale Man toy, 2011 -- link --  Eric J. Garcia, Tamale Man comic book, accordion style, Sept 2020 -- link --  Patrociño Barela, Untitled (Four Heads and Two Animals), juniper wood, undated -- link --  Augustín Portillo, America-B.29, 2004 -- link -- 

Top of the Day: Arbre et maisons - Marc Chagall, 1970/1970 Today's Artwork: Mural by Tizer, Hunto - Tizer, 2012/2014 -- link -- Gardens of the Generalife - Santiago Rusiñol, 1909 -- link -- Maritime Safety through the Ages - Publisher: Kawanabe Kyosai, Artist: Daikokuya Kinnosuke/ Kinjiro, 1863.7 -- link -- Weary - Artist: James McNeill Whistler, 1863 -- link -- Arbre et maisons - Marc Chagall, 1970/1970 -- link -- ​

Top of the Day: Saint Gregory the Pope - Pedro Berruguete, Around 1495 Today's Artwork: The Visitation - El Greco, ca. 1610-1614 -- link -- Saint Gregory the Pope - Pedro Berruguete, Around 1495 -- link -- Christ Appearing to His Mother - Juan de Flandes, ca. 1496 -- link -- Saint Bartholomey destroying the pagan idol - Joan Gascó and Perot Gascó, 1525 - 1526 -- link -- Christ Cleansing the Temple - El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), probably before 1570 -- link --