Woman before an Aquarium, 1921–23 Henri Matisse, French, 1869–1954 Oil on canvas, 31 3/4 x 39 3/8 in. (80.7 x 100 cm) Signed, l.r.: "Henri Matisse" Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection, 1926.220 © 2009 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

I love her look of rapt attention. This to me is one of the 'Perfect Things' in the world. (Vermeer's "Young Woman with a Water Pitcher" is one, and Renoir's "Two Young Girls at the Piano" is another.) I enjoyed the other two Matisse's beside it, as well, "Interior at Nice" among them:

Interior at Nice, 1919 or 1920 Henri Matisse, French, 1869–1954 Oil on canvas, 52 x 35 in. (132.1 x 88.9 cm) Signed, l.r.: "Henri-Matisse" Gift of Mrs. Gilbert W. Chapman, 1956.339 © 2009 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Matisse's scenes are very tranquil, and usually of interior scenes. Another artist working around this time sought to explore nature. "Among the German Expressionists, artists who used strong color and exaggerated form to express emotional content, Franz March was unique in his empathic interest in the life of animals. 'Is there a more mysterious idea,' he asked, 'than to imagine how nature is reflected in the eyes of animals?'" (From the info card)

The Bewitched Mill, 1913 Franz Marc, German, 1880–1916 Oil on canvas, 51 1/4 x 35 7/8 in. (130.2 x 90.8 cm)

(Detail from lower right - the dark one is watching you!) inscribed, l.l.: "M." Arthur Jerome Eddy Memorial Collection, 1931.522

After a lunch of rolled potato tostadas and spanish rice, I was refreshed and sought out American art. Several of the galleries of art before 1900 were cordoned off, so I leaned in and sampled from a distance. But the American efforts from 1900-1950 were all available. Yes, I found another Calder:

The Chicken, 1944 Alexander Calder, American, 1898–1976 Bronze, 24 1/4 x 12 5/8 x 12 3/8 in. (61.6 x 32 x 31.5 cm) Lindy and Edwin Bergman Collection, 107.1991 © 2008 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

When I look at this piece, I think how good a fried egg would taste! It amuses me to think of displaying this sculpture with a rubber fried egg besides it. A geometric painting by Marsden Hartley fascinated me while I rested my feet:

Painting No. 50, 1914-15 Marsden Hartley (1877-1943) Oil on canvas, 47 x 47 in. (119.4 x 119.4 cm) Terra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection T1999.61

Oh! I did not see everything, for I missed American Folk Art, and a photography exhibit of Cartier-Bresson, and the Japanese galleries were under construction. But I'm satisfied. Tomorrow, I aim for the Modern Art Museum, which is featuring a Calder exhibit. I'm catching them all, including a huge arched one near the Post Office:

There was some construction going on when I photographed this, but the worker gives an idea of how big it is.

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