(in search of oneself)
oil on linen 30×30 inches, 2011
Wandering through the Louvre is at once exhilarating and humbling. It is one of the most magnificent structures ever built (a palace no less!), and it houses some of the most important pieces of art ever created.
For the first half of the day we follow a long circuitous route from wing to wing, floor to floor, visiting our favorite paintings. In the afternoon we revisit special pieces, then wander through the rest of the vast collection, stopping often to draw works of art as well as interesting people.
In between our rambling strolls we like to stop at Café Mollien, one of several restaurants within the museum itself. Café Mollien is particularly wonderful because it offers a long view of the massive paintings in the gallery beyond as well as a peek-a-boo view of Michelangelo’s majestic sculptures in the level below. To sit and rest in such a setting is a sublime experience, especially for an artist.
On one of our visits we were surprised to see the person sitting opposite us drawing and journalizing her museum experience in much the same way we do. Though we spoke not a word with her, we sensed she shared our deep and abiding appreciation of what the Louvre represents—to each of us personally and to humankind as a whole.
At that moment we realized we were all kindred souls looking to great art to help us define ourselves and our place in the world.
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