Kunsthistorisches Museum

I've been trying to practice and get my sleep schedule back on track (which is not going so well, unfortunately) so I have hardly left my apartment since I have been back in Wien. Before I left, Amber asked what would be the first thing I do. I said that the first thing would be to go to a museum. That's not true since I went to the grocery store and I also bought new plates so that I have more than 2 for when visitors come. I also bought The Little Prince and East of Eden. I'm super excited for the new movie. The Little Prince is one of my favorite books of all time. I hope they leave the core of the book alone, but I am intrigued by the frame story. And I've been wanting to read East of Eden for years now.

Anyway, it was another gorgeous day so I decided to go out and see what new things were at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. I have a year pass there and trust me, I have already gotten my money's worth. I went straight to the museum because I knew my feet tend to get tired and I didn't want to spend all day out since I need to practice. It's still a bit surreal being back, even having only left for 3 months. I forget who told me this, but someone said that Wien is sort of a mix of various architectural styles and it's not the prettiest city. Maybe there are other more beautiful cities, especially in Europe, but I still love it here. I find it very difficult to describe cities to people. Every city is unique and has a certain feeling. I have to go explore the city and try cafes and restaurants so that I can properly entertain my friends who are coming to visit. So I'll be posting about what I discover.

Back to the museum, I really loved the new exhibit which included Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, and even some Rembrandt. All of whose works I enjoyed seeing at the National Gallery in Washington, DC. I find that my tastes in art have really grown and expanded. A big example being that I used to think that portraiture was so boring. Then the Velazquez exhibit last winter changed that. I just found myself mesmerized by his portraits. I wouldn't say that I've moved away from my love of landscapes and impressionism, but I have since fallen in love with Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) as well as Baroque and earlier styles.

Being the home to the Viennese Secession, Klimt, Schiele, and Kokoschka are venerated here. On the other end of the spectrum, Albrecht Durer and Pieter Bruegel the Elder hold prominent spots in the Kunsthistorisches and Albertina Museums. And somewhere in the middle is Carl Moll, Hans Makart, and Koloman Moser. The Last Judgment by Hieronymus Bosch is even in Wien. But although a wonderful Monet exhibit was at the Belvedere over the winter, I don't know if there are any works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Sisley, Cezanne, Pisarro, (or Van Gogh), so basically nothing French. So I'm especially glad that I was able to visit the National Gallery in DC, which has all of those artists represented, in addition to British and American artists.

Art really brings me great joy, and I'm so lucky to live in a city with world class museums. I wish they were a little less expensive, but it's worth it.