While in Switzerland, I visited Kunstmuseum Basel to view the Meisterwerke der Sammlung Im Obersteg (‘Masterpices in the Obersteg Collection’) showcasing four floors of work, but featuring art by Picasso, Chagall, and Jawlensky. I’m going to share a few of the pictures that I took.
I found getting to Basel and the museum itself relatively painless (my specific journey took a few hours). It has to be said that the bus and train system across Switzerland is easy-to-use even if it’s your first visit. Basel is also chock-full of art galleries… so I was surprised to hear one of them is just simply called… ‘Kusnstmuseum’.
The Meisterwerke der Sammlung Im Obersteg exhbition was held in the Kunstmuseum’s New Building. At the time of visiting (early March) the gallery spaces were quite quiet and no group tours were permitted.
The following photographs show only a very, very small few of the works on show. (Of course, I’m biased to which pieces I like, too!)
Jawlensky’s use of colour is so vibrant and confident! I’d never seen his work in person before and I am so glad that I got to see some in Basel.
I took a lot of photographs of the paintings that were shown without glass. (Because my phone camera isn’t really made for talking shots with glare and reflected light!) Seeing many oil paintings in person again was great. The vibrant colour palettes and strong figures were inspiriting.
The varied figures and mediums used was a highlight for me. Yes, there were also many oil paintings, but even then, each artist uses them in their own way cultivated through their unique exploration of the medium.
I really like the strong shapes and contrasting textures that the baboon is composed of. Her face very much looks like the Citroën 2CV, don’t you think?
The exhibition housed a pair of Picasso’s harlequins (which were a big feature). I can’t say that they’re easy to photograph and I didn’t get good photographs of them, but I was very happy to see them in person! (I made sure to buy a notebook with one of the pantings printed on the cover.)
The ground floor had on show a few rooms of modern artworks.
In the gallery space above, you can see Cedar Piece by Carl Andre in the foreground, and clockwise, from the left: the florescent light Untitled (1969) by Dan Flavin, the aluminium sculpture Untitled (1970) by Donald Judd, and the painting Untitled (1968) by Blinky Palermo.
I also visited the Kunstmuseum’s Old Building and saw 4 floors of art there. If I share any photographs of the artwork, I’ll make a separate blog entry.
Looking back, I’m really happy that I made my way out to Basel to see the museum, even if I was on my own. (It may have been more exiting to see and share with someone else, but there are always future gallery exhibitions to go to.)
I bought myself a notebook with one of Picasso’s harlequins, and a couple of postcards. I have already sent the postcard of Sam Gilliam’s work (Rondo) to a friend who the work reminded me of.
Until I can visit galleries again in the future, I have the memories of visiting Kunstmuseum Basel, and feel that now is a good time to create for the sake of creating. When last did you put aside time to make something that shows how you feel…?
DESIGN WORKS 
I am so pleased to see these pieces from the museum. I’m afraid the Effigy of a Fruit Bearing Rock is a penis(?). Is that not what they say about Gustav Klimpt’s “Kiss” also? My apologies if my comment suggests my mind is in the gutter. Yes, the baboon’s face does look like a Citroën 2CV. Amazing sculpture.
LikeLike
Effigy of a Fruit Bearing Rock is a penis if you want it to be!! It’d pretty funny with it’s tiny arms and hands (presumably legs, too). You can interpret art as you please. You can believe what someone else thinks… or what an artist stated about their work… but you can make your own opinion on art independent of those factors and its just as valid. Death of the author… or artist… in this case.
LikeLike
Pingback: Kunstmuseum Basel – Old Building – Imogen's Student Blog
Pingback: Past Academic Year – Reflections – Imogen's Student Blog