OT: Ramon Casas. Modernity Desired

The celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ramon Casas (1866-1932) provides a magnificent opportunity to rediscover the work of a painter whose work reflects the birth of a new era, one in which modernity came knocking on the doors of history. Through his attitude, at times bohemian, at times irreverent and ironic, Casas positioned himself decisively within a movement that emerged during the closing decades of the nineteenth century. This is illustrated by his use of such inventions as the bicycle and the motorcar, which embodied his optimism regarding the technological possibilities offered by the myth of progress. Halfway between desire and reality, then, Casas’ work was open to a vast range of influences: poster art, photography, Japanese prints and so on. The exhibition, first presented in Sitges and now opening at CaixaForum Madrid, features 145 works by both by Casas himself and a number of his contemporaries. Organised by ”la Caixa” Foundation in coordination with the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) and the Museums of Sitges, the show was produced with support from the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona Provincial Council and Sitges City Council.

Ramon Casas. Modernity Desired, from 8 March to 11 June 2017 at CaixaForum Madrid. CaixaForum Madrid (Paseo del Prado, 36).

Read more here.

OT: Masterpieces from Budapest. From the Renaissance to the Avant-Garde

Masterpieces from Budapest. From the Renaissance to the Avant-Garde is the first of the major exhibitions the Museo Thyssen –Bornemisza is staging in 2017 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its opening to the public. The show brings together ninety works of superb quality for visitors to enjoy in Madrid and has been made possible by the collaboration with the the Museum of Fine Arts-Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest.

The Museum of Fine Arts opened on 1 December 1906, though it was in fact founded ten years earlier in 1896. Its holding, which are international in scope, gradually grew through gifts and acquisitions, such as the purchase of the fabulous Esterházy collection from Miklós Esterházy in 1871 – the core of the current museum’s collections – and  the bequest of Count János Pálffy in 1912. The Hungarian National Gallery, devoted exclusively to Hungarian art, was officially separated from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in 1957: Housed in the Buda Castle complex since 1975, it exhibits masterworks dating from the medieval period to the 20th century.

Among the pieces selected for this exhibition, visitor will find not only paintings but also drawings and sculptures that reflect the richness and quality of the collections in the care of the institutions. The show is arranged chronologically, spanning from the 15th to the 20th centuries, and the works are grouped by national schools. (Source: Exhibition brochure)

Today Begoña and I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition, which offers a wonderful tour through out the history of European art from the XV until the XX century.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Temporary exhibition halls level 0
Paseo del Prado, 8
28014 Madrid
Exhibition dates: 18 February – 28 May 2017
Opening hours: Mondays: closed. Tuesdays to Fridays and Sundays: 10am to 7pm. Saturdays: 10am to 9pm

For further information click here.