Shopping

Andreas Gursky, 99 Cent,1999, Matthew Marks Gallery

The photograph has been manipulated to enhance the consumer experience, removing shadows, adding a mirror to the ceiling, repeating the images, and removing the shoppers.

There He Is

Man in a House beneath a Cliff by Shitao, late 17th century, Chinese, Wang Collection, NY.

I love how abstract this is yet, the scene is perfectly straightforward when you stop and look at it.

Can This Marriage Be Saved?

William Hogarth, The Marriage Contract, from the Marriage a la Mode series,1745, Tate Gallery, London.

The Tate is having an exhibition on Hogarth now through April 29th. Hogarth is known for his satire and was one of the most innovative artists of the 18th century. http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/hogarth/

More Monsters

Matthias Grunewald, The Isenheim Alterpiece (detail), c. 1510-15, Musee d'Unterlinden, Colmar, France.

A shrine with two moveable wings, the Isenheim Altarpiece contains some of the most facinating creatures ever portrayed.

Mad Monsters

Matthias Grunewald, detail, Isenheim Altarpiece, 1510-15

These fantastic monsters are part of oneof the most amazing pieces of art to come out of the 16th century.

Natural Light

Interior with a Girl at the Clavier by Wilhelm Hammershoi, Private Collection.

Hammershoi's use of crisp clean interiors with natural light recalls the 17th century work of fellow Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer. Hammershoi's model is his wife Ida whom he painted many times either from the back or in profile.

Salvaged

Section of a Stencil from the face of the Main Ceiling Trusses of the Trading Room of the Chicago Stock Exchange Building, 1893/94 designed by Adler and Sullivan and executed by Healy and Miller, The Art Institute of Chicago.

The trading room from the Chicago Stock Exchange was dismantled when the building was torn down and reconstructed at The Art Institute of Chicago. The building was torn down in 1972. It was designed by the famous Chicago architecture firm of Adler and Sullivan.