My Top 5 in DC's National Gallery of Art

A paintings tour!

Do you know the feeling of swimming in the pool for endless hours in the bright white light, dipping under the surface, and looking up to see the sun coming through the clear water?  This is what going to the National Gallery of Art on a clear day feels like to me.  When you look up to the ceiling’s skylights, you are reminded of the beautiful weather outside.  Inside the museum walls, surrounded by the brilliant colors of timeless paintings and other pieces of art, you feel a sense of calm that is magnified by the gallery’s bountiful supply of flowers.  Going to the Washington, DC National Gallery of Art on such a day is the adult equivalent of a magical childhood summertime swim. Refreshing, comforting, and usually brimming with creativity.

On my most recent visit to the museum, I made a decision on my favorite paintings.  I wanted to start with just five.  So, as a biased lover of Impressionism, I entered through the front doors of the museum, past the man hammering new donor names into the marble walls, and up to that exhibit on the second floor.  On my way, I passed the rotunda fountain.  On this trip, it was swathed in colorful, luscious flowers that could have been a painting themselves.  I looked up to see the light spilling in gently through the top of the building’s dome, and then walked to the left, past an eager tour group crowding around their guide. Brilliant, dark-as-mortar statues stared at me as I walked.

First is Théodore Duret by Edouard Vuillard.  The romanticism of being an early thinker, with mountains of books, polished wood, crown moulding, and used papers surrounding me – crinkling at the touch – is what drew me to this painting.  Why do I want to be a 20^th Century thinker so badly?  A Mental Floss article comes to my mind.  You may be a genius if you’re messy and have a liking for cats.

A Bend in the Road by Paul Cézanne reminds me of springtime when light green trees mix with the dark.  The baby blues and pinks of the sky are gorgeous and soft against the deep shades and rough edges of the forest.  I love the contrast in this painting, perhaps accented by the fact that it’s Cubism, and that, despite it, the colors pair beautifully.  I want to dress in these tones one day.

(George Moore in the Artist’s Garden by Edouard Manet). If you’ve ever come across the social media account “Parisiens in Paris” (a fashion blog), you’ll see the resemblance the picture bears.  This outfit could easily make the cut, even today.  On face value, George Moore looks like a simple man, and I’d bet he’d have never expected that his portrait would hang on the wall of a famous American museum, over 150 years into the future.  It reminds me that anything is possible.  I love the olive and navy color palette, and the unfinished background whose impression is meant to give the plants beyond the fence a sense of fullness.  His hair color is the perfect accent that ties back to the frame.

The Olive Orchard by Vincent Van Gogh accents the shape of the women’s bodies with the curves of the twisted olive trees.  This painting is so peaceful, and I wonder if Van Gogh chose olive trees – an international symbol of peace – for that reason.  I wish dark, contrasting outlines would show up more frequently in art.  Just stare at this one for a little while.

(In the Dining Room by Berthe Morisot).  I must be a sucker for contrast in paintings, but also for lighting, open windows, elegant clutter, and that blueish-purple color.  I imagine this as a weekend day spent in a beautiful home with quality furniture and food, decorations, strong fabrics, and clear glass reflecting the morning light.  Where each item in the house is so timeless that a mess on the table or dresser looks gorgeous.  Art makes me think about things that I’d like to think about more.

(Thanks for letting me take you on this tour!)