Fondation de Pierre Gianadda: Nicholas de Stael

When you enter the exhibit, the first thing you see is a portrait of Nicholas de Stael. As you move through the exhibition you start to see the paintings through his eyes. The portrait of him is in your mind and I think it gives a sense of respect to all the pieces. Because you see the artist initially, you find yourself feeling a sense of obligation to de Stael, to look closer and think deeper about what you see in all the paintings.

In addition to the paintings by de Stael there was also a collection of photographs of de Stael and his family from throughout his life. They gave the collection a real character and put more of an understanding behind the different pieces in the exhibition. Also the photos helped you see what else de Stael did with his life outside of painting, such as having a family, getting married twice and joining the French Foreign Legion.

The Fondation de Pierre Gianadda was truly fascinating. Each painting by de Stael made me imagine and try to comprehend the depth of the painting because each abstraction demands discovery. You can't just walk past a painting like de Stael's and just move on; you've got to stand, stare, and decide what you will see and what that will mean. This process is what I love about art. It demands attention and exploration whether you're looking at Van Gogh or de Stael.

The permanent exhibition in the Fondation was more traditional and classic. There was a Picasso, a Van Gogh, and a few other pieces from well known artists. This collection really reminded me of the National Gallery in Washington D.C., both the ambience and the perfection. The two rooms that housed the permanent collection were all white minus the light olive green cushioned benches that sat in the center of each room, museum style.

I could have sat on the green benches in the permanent collection rooms looking at those paintings for days. As I said before, there is nothing like the feeling you get when looking at something so magnificent and truly perfect; it demands something from you. It's not always clear what that is but at the very least you must give the painting your full attention and attempt to understand; the feeling, the purpose, and the history that it captures. For me, paintings are like a window to the past: if you are will to give of your time they open a door to the past and let you see what came before.