Impressionismo a Palazzo Strozzi

Today my girlfriend and I visited Palazzo Strozzi's current mostra (exhibition), Impressionismo: dipingere la luce (Impressionists: Painting Light). I have been impressed with all the mostre that I've attended at Palazzo Strozzi, so when a new one arrives I usually plan a visit as soon as I can. After going to two mostre, I've understood that the Palazzo Strozzi is not only successful in presenting the artwork, but also in communicating intriguing information about it.

Living in Florence :: Impressionismo a Palazzo Strozzi

After viewing the artwork in each sala (room) up close, I sat down on the soft black cushions on the cement steps under the tall windows to view the artwork again from afar. I love impressionismo (impressionism) because of the beauty that can be appreciated when a quadro (painting) is being viewed close-up close or from farther away.

I learned at this mostra that impressionismo was much more than just an art technique, but also a movement that introduced many innovations. Artists could paint all'aperto (outside) and be more spontaneous. If they were unable to paint all'aperto because of poor weather conditions, they would take a foto (picture) to take back to the studio.

Some artists were so spontaneous that they painted over previously used tele (canvases) or even used other materials, like a scatola porta sigari (cigar box).

I was impressed by the vescica di maiale (pig bladder) that was used to transport paints like the tubes that are used nowadays. Many tavolozze (palettes) from various impressionisti were also on display to show how they transported their materials to paint all'aperto.

Many of the quadri came from the Wallraf-Richartz Museum & Foundation Corboud in Cologne, Germany, which I had visited back in 1998. I certainly don't remember all the pieces, but a few were certainly memorable.

I walked away from the museo happy and more knowledgeable about the impressionisti (impressionists). I love how the mostra at Palazzo Strozzi not only presented less-known pieces of art from very well-knows artists, like Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir, but it also succeeded in teaching me to appreciate the artwork even more.

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