We have all heard of the Louvre, due to the remarkable painting, ‘The Mona Lisa’ by Leonardo DaVinci. Many people desire to see this masterpiece. But what about the rest of the paintings in the Louvre Palace? People today tend to visit museums just to see popular paintings, but they ignore the other paintings. The other paintings in the Louvre have the same value as the Mona Lisa in relation to art. There are more than 7,500 paintings ranging from the 13th century
The magnificence of art museums, such as the Louvre, is that they were designed to provide us with meaningful information of comprehension on how humanity progresses from century to century by utilizing paintings, sculptures, and artifacts that have been curated with delicacy for us to see and understand. Arts museums are very special to me. I enjoy the connection that I have with the art in a spacious room. Some people do not appreciate art museums as much because they feel they do not know how to look at art and feel as though art museums are not meant for them due to the absence of knowledge of the artist and the art. In Tejshvi Jain’s article, “Why DON’T PEOPLE VISIT MUSEUMS MORE OFTEN,” she mentions John H. Falk, who is the author of Museum Experience Revisited. In the article, Falk explains that one of the main reasons why individuals choose to visit museums is due to personal values and background.
Jane Norman, the author of the book How to Look in Art, states, “There is no substitute for a good ear in listening to music; a good eye is equally necessary for looking at art.” So, remember, that the main priority in being at the museum is to create a connection with the artwork. Give all of your focus to the art, and spend time connecting to it. After being in museums such as the Louvre and the Paris Museum of Modern Art, I have learned that I enjoy being around unfamiliar artwork more because I strongly believe that every piece of artwork deserves the same amount of attention and adoration as the “Mona Lisa” receives on a daily basis.
To more thoroughly enjoy the art museums, I do not take my phone out to take a picture of the painting until the end of my visit. Let the art see that you appreciate it. While you are there in front of the art, admiring it, you are valuing it because it has gripped your eyes. It does not matter if you love it, abhor it, or if it perplexes you because no matter what, you appreciated the art in some way. For instance, I saw a couple of Caravaggio’s paintings a few years ago. Caravaggio’s paintings are a dark realistic portrayal of emotional and physical pain during the Baroque time in Italy. I was not a fan of his art at first, but it grabbed my attention! Over time, I started to favor his artwork more. I now have a new perspective on the emotional and physical sadness that people try to hide away, even if we cannot do so successfully.
While looking at the painting, you must look from both afar and close proximity to see the painting from all perspectives. I enjoy looking closer so that I may see the brush strokes that the painter has left for us. It is not difficult to build assimilation of art. It is not necessary to be an expert in the art to have a significant connection to it. By just questioning yourself, “What’s is this painting all about?” and “What it is telling me?”, you are connecting with art.
I also bring a pencil and paper to write and draw what I notice on the paintings and sculptures to retain information given, so I can later look for more information on the artist and the paintings. Trying to draw on your own is another way that I attempt to enjoy art. I never relished the art until I began to doodle random sketches for fun. You do not have to be a drawing specialist! So, do not be afraid to doodle horrible little drawings or sketches, because that is another way to get a closer relationship with art and enjoy your museum trip.
While writing and drawing notes down, I always take my time. Taking it on your own pace is crucial to enjoying art museums. You have the decision to stay all day or five minutes to see a painting. You have every right to decide how much time you spend with the painting. I find this very valuable because you are giving the gift of time to the artwork and taking the time to properly appreciate it.
Art museums, in general, are very essential to the public and are affordable to get in. Some museums even offer free admission to students. Museums preserve almost every part of human civilization in art. The ideas and feelings in each painting are completely exposed to art museums. Admire all artwork in museums just as you would the “Mona Lisa” because those artists have dedicated time and work to each and every piece.
Photo Credit: Cover (photo by author), 1, 2, 3