When: closing December 31, 2018
I think the only good thing about a threat of a government shutdown is that it gives me some serious incentive to get out to the museums before they close for who knows how long. This past week, I saw more exhibits than I've seen in months, including several I would have been sorry to miss.
The first one I visited was this Corot retrospective at the National Gallery. Although he's known primarily for his landscapes, this show is entirely portraits, almost all of women. Unlike other French artists, who showed idealized visions of feminine beauty, Corot opted to portray his subjects in a more realistic light.
In the show's first room, all the women appear in some sort of costume; apparently, he kept lots of clothing in his studio for this purpose. The clothes are not "real," but the women in the clothes certainly are. No blushing milkmaids or inscrutable foreign maidens here. Not only are they not all exquisitely beautiful, they are not all smiling and demure. They look right at the viewer, and if they are less than happy, the viewer knows it.
Although Corot painted in the 19th century, the beginnings of modernism are visible, if one knows where to look. Many of his works are unfinished, giving them an abstract look. The wall notes show pieces by Picasso and other modern artists that seem to take their cues from Corot's work. I'm not knowledgeable enough about modern art to say if the connections are real, but the similarities are certainly there.
My favorite piece in the show is one called "Woman with a Pearl." The model is looking out at something the viewer cannot see, and has a sort of veil over her hair and face. It doesn't obscure her face, but does provide a bit of glitter to the painting that one doesn't often see in 19th century works.
Verdict: This is an intriguing show, which I would recommend. While you're there, check out the lovely holiday decorations (some are visible in the photo) - always a treat.
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