Pictures of Pictures

Well, this week I'm actually starting classes (which, by the way, are all in French. We'll see how that works out), which means that for the past few weeks, everyone in the program has been running around like chickens with their heads cut off, trying to do all those wonderful touristy things that we probably won't be able to do once we have to do homework (also in French. Grr). What all THAT means, is that I've been to a whole bunch of museums (most of which are free to us, as VWPP [Vassar-Wesleyan Program in Paris] decided to make us all art history students, because we get in free to said museums. Pretty sweet). My favorite so far was probably the Louvre, though we were only in there for a total of 15 minutes before they kicked us out. Because it is my first time in Paris, and therefore at the Louvre, my friends rushed me up to see the Mona Lisa, as it is a necessity for first-timers.


Something to know about this most famous work of art - it's small. Made smaller by the fact that there is a counter around it, making you stand about ten feet away. Rather a pain. In any case, I looked at it, I took a few pictures, I noticed some interesting details about the left and right sides, and then I turned my attention to the painting on the other wall.

It was really pretty, and the railing was only a foot away from it, so I could get much closer, and look at the detailing better. It was also huge. (Apparently size does matter to me?) It grabbed my attention a lot better than the Mona Lisa, even though there were a few guards surrounding it.

We also went to the Musee d'Orsay, which I really enjoyed. They had a Van Gogh exhibit, which was fantastic. You know how everyone says that you can see the brushstrokes in his paintings? It's completely true. It was a bit unreal to me.

(original)
(close-up)

And there was NO fencing around these. This one didn't even have glass - I could have touched it if I wanted to (and if they wouldn't have gotten really angry at me). Of course, I didn't, but STILL! I could have!