Visit to a Museum

This canvas belongs to a group of pictures in which Degas painted women looking at art in museums. In reference to another work in the series, the perversely contradictory and impish Degas nonetheless remarked to British painter Walter Sickert that he wanted to "give the idea of that bored and respectfully crushed and impressed absence of sensation that women experience in front of paintings."Probably it is American artist Mary Cassatt we see here. Degas made a number of prints and pastels of Cassatt and her sister during visits to the Louvre -- where, in fact, she and Degas first met. These works make it possible to identify the setting of this work. Although painted freely, Degas' sketchy brushstrokes convey the surfaces of painted canvases in heavy gold frames and the pink columns still found in the Grande Galerie. Well, I hope this painting will inspire you to visit some museum this weekend! We have another offer for you - we totally love museum selfies, so we have an idea. Share with us your museum photos - every week we'll give you a space on our facebook fanpage - just send us your photos via facebook, twitter, or an email. Can't wait to see them!