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[wylies99]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/05/148_45789.html


By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

The much-anticipated exhibition of works by Impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) finally opens at the Seoul Museum of Art, downtown Seoul, Thursday.

``Renoir: Promise of Happiness'' marks the first time an extensive retrospective of Renoir's artworks (118 pieces, including 70 oil paintings) has been held in Seoul. Little fanfare surrounded the exhibition's opening, since the Wednesday's opening reception was cancelled in light of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun.

``Renoir is an artist who represents in his paintings all phenomena and objects of this world in their most beautiful state. This is why his artworks transcend time and present his spectator with infinite visual delightfulness,'' said Seo Soun-jou, commissioner of the Renoir exhibition, in the exhibition essay.

Instead of displaying the art works by chronological order, the exhibition is divided into eight thematic sections that seek to shed light into Renoir's artistic vision.

The exhibition starts with the first section, ``Happiness of Life.'' Masterpieces such as ``A Dance in the Country'' (1883), ``The Swing'' (1876), ``Young Girls at the Piano'' (1892) and ``Yvonne and Christine Lerolle at the Piano'' (1897) will delight visitors.

The next hall is filled with paintings of Renoir's family. After marrying Aline Victorine Charigot in 1890, Renoir made many paintings of his wife, three children, Jean, Pierre and Claude, and their nurse, Gabrielle Renard.

Among the notable works are ``Maternity,'' ``Claude Renoir in a Clown Costume'' (1909), ``Gabrielle with a Rose'' (1911), and a portrait of fellow artist Claude Monet (1875).

Feminine beauty is a favorite subject of Renoir. In the section ``Images of Women,'' visitors can find lovely portraits such as ``Madame Henriot,'' ``Madame de Bonnieres'' and ``Young Woman with Hat.''

The section ``Bathers and Nudes'' features Renoir's paintings that lovingly portray the voluptuous female form, such as ``Reclining Female Nude (Gabrielle) (1906-1907),'' ``Bather Seated on a Rock (1892)'' and ``The Bathers (1916).''

A section focuses on Renoir and his art dealers, particularly Paul Durand-Ruel whose friendship lasted 47 years. Renoir made portraits of Durand-Ruel and his family, including a particularly enchanting portrait of Marie-Therese Durand-Ruel Cousant.

The exhibition also includes sections of Renoir's landscapes and still lifes, and works on paper. The last section, ``Renoir Seen by Albert Andre,'' shows ink drawings and paintings of Renoir made by his friend and confidante Albert Andre. Andre's ``Renoir Painting His Family'' (1901) gives an intimate look into the Renoir family, while his later portraits of Renoir (1919) show a frail man stricken with illness and sadness.

Renowned museums such as Musee D'Orsay and Musee de l'Orangerie in Paris, National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and other public art museums, as well as private collectors in the United States, Japan, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, lent the pieces for the Renoir retrospective.

The exhibition is organized by the Seoul Museum of Art, SBS and The Hankook Ilbo, sister newspaper of The Korea Times.

The exhibition runs through Sept. 13. Tickets are 12,000 won for adults (19-64 years), 10,000 won for students (13-18 years) and 8,000 won for children (7-12 years). Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Visit www.renoirseoul.com.

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[wylies99]

Has anyone been to this exhibit?

Here is the wikipedia page for the host- The Seoul Museum of Art.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul_Museum_of_Art

[Steelrails]

Thank wylies.

I may disagree with almost everything you have to say, but you made my day with this post.

BTW you should check out the favorite paintings thread...

[tefain]

Sweet! This should be a great exibit.

I just stated the other day in the 'favorite painting' thread in the off-topic forum that my favorite painting is by him- On the Terrace. I didn't see it listed as being one of the featured works, however.

I don't guess The Art Institute of Chicago is as charitable as some of the others.

It won't keep me from going, but it is a huge omission.

[tefain]

[whiteshoes]

I've was there opening weekend. I loved it.

I'll be going back with a Korean friend who can read all of the placards to me

[I'm no Picasso]

[Stevil]

I also preferred the "Dissonant Visions" exhibit.
I regret not checking out this exhibit, while I was out by City Hall Station:

Fernando Botero
National Museum of Contemporary Art, Deoksu Palace
Through Sept. 17

Renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero brings Latin American life to Seoul through an exhibition of 90 paintings and sculptures. His famous reinterpretations of portraits by Rubens, Velasquez and Goya are included. Admission is 10,000 won for adults and 4,000 won for children. The museum is closed on Mondays. To get there, get off at City Hall Station, line 1 or 2, exit 1 or 2. Call (02... or visit http://botero.moca.go.kr.

[wylies99]

I was finally able to visit the museum and see this exhibit. It's worth seeing, but try to go during a weekday. The exhibit was very crowded. The paintings are amazing. It's hard to believe that a person actually painted those paintings- especially the background colors. It's just amazing to see these paintings in person. Now, remember, it does cost 12,000 for a ticket.

If you want to go and don't that area very well, try to follow these directions-

Go to City Hall subway station and walk out exit 1 on the #1 line part. At the top of the subway stairs, you'll see a KFC and GS convenience store to your immediate right. There's an alley next to the GS store. Walk down that alley, to your right, next to the GS store. Keep walking straight ahead for about 3 blocks (maybe 300 meters) and you will eventually see the steps to the Seoul Museum of Art to your left. You'll see banners advertising the Renoir exhibit.

[Adventurer]

The paintings were fabulous. Renoir focuses a lot on the ideas of nature, femininity, shapely women, and he also painted members from the Ruel family. There were beautiful oil paintings.

[nosmallplans]

yawn @ renoir.

klimt may have been a pervert but at least his work is more interesting.

[wylies99]

[sojusucks]

[tzechuk]

Excellent! I knew it was coming and have been waiting for it. I might go on Saturday.

[wylies99]