Last weekend my family and I went to The Getty Center and it was an incredibly visit.
We’ve been saying for months that we’ve been in California for more than a year and a half now and we haven’t really done much exploring, so this weekend we decided to tackle this insane monster of a museum, which I mean in the best way possible.
What I try to do in museums is make note of the pieces that I find lovely or that I feel have really interesting stories behind them, and I wanted to share a few of my favourites in the hopes that I encourage someone to explore this beautiful place during weekend (or future weekends)
This is Vase by Jean-Désiré Ringel d’Illzach
Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program.
I don’t have a particularly dark personality so when I entered one of the galleries and saw this massive, 9-foot tall vase that looked like Tim Burton and Edgar Allan Poe’s creative lovechild I was freaked out. As I listened to the audio guide talk about the different parts of the vase I was still freaked out it; which is why I share it, my reaction may not have been one of intense positive admiration but this is one of the most memorable pieces in my mind.
(If like me you aren’t keen on things that are eerie, I’m glad to tell you that this is really the only piece in this blog that contains any sort of creepiness. But if you are really into Edgar Allan Poe style art, I’m sorry to say that this post will just go downhill from here)
Self-Portrait, Yawning by Joseph Ducreux
Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program.
I love this painting. A lot of the art that I saw that day were introspective and heavy. This particular piece was informal and downright endearing and, like the audio guide mentioned, it’s impressive that Ducreux took a moment that usually only lasts for a few seconds and immortalizes it long before the first picture was captured by camera.
Dancer by Paolo Troubetzkoy
Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program.
This sculpture was in a gallery surrounded by sculptures that were way bigger, but as soon as I went in my eyes immediately landed on this lovely figure; it feels very delicate and pleasant. The fact that the dress actually looks like a dress in motion rather than bronze formed in the image of a dress just blows my mind.
What I also really enjoy about this place is that even the outside poses as some kind of exhibit or piece of art.
It’s kind of beautiful that both the interior and exterior of this museum feel so otherworldly but then you look a little further and you see quintessential California roads and homes. More than once my family and I went “Oh yeah…we’re still in California!” which only added to the charm and obscurity of the place.
We weren’t able to go to every single gallery and exhibit (I don’t really think anyone could unless you get there the moment it opens and leave the moment it closes) but that’s okay! Because we have an excuse to go back!
The Girl Who Wrote 