Post- Justin C. Blomgren

Mar 3

Mar 3 Early Monet at the Legion of Honor

I got the awesome opportunity last week to go to the press event for the new Early Monet exhibit at the Legion of Honor. It is a beautiful museum. It was my first time and I was completely blown away. It is located in the Presidio, right on the bay overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Not sure how many of you know, but I actually have a Master's in Art History. I haven't really done anything with it...besides go to museums and pretend to sound smart in front of friends.

It was so fun to be in a room surrounded by art critics and big time newspapers. Although I was never quite sure what I should tell them when they asked which publication I was from? I told them I had an instagram account. Nevertheless, the exhibit was beautiful. I've never been a huge Monet fan, but I have a GREAT respect for his role in the advancement of modernism. In contrast to his contemporaries, Monet used quick and broad brushstrokes to capture an image of cosmopolitan Paris at the turn of the 20th Century. His early paintings were initially heavily critiqued and mocked for their rough 'impression' of society, hence the beginning of the Impressionist movement. The exhibit the Legion has put together focuses on those early years. Although Monet is now almost universally applauded, it is important to remember that it took a long time to get to that point. The Legion has put together an impressive collection from around the world, and I would definitely try and check it out sooner than later. It is sure to be a popular one. Get a little preview below :)