‘NOTIONS OF FEMININITY’ TOPIC OF LUNCHTIME TALK AT CLARK ART INSTITUTE

March 1, 2018
[Digital image available upon request]

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute’s popular “Looking and Lunching” program continues on Thursday, March 15 at 12 pm with “Notions of Femininity,” presented by Curatorial Assistant Kristie Couser. A half-hour gallery discussion of the Impressionist painting The Bath (1885–86) by Berthe Morisot, one of “les trois grandes dames” of Impressionism, will be followed by continued conversation over lunch with fellow art lovers.

The Bath, painted with long, broad brushstrokes, records a seemingly spontaneous, private moment. The young woman depicted was a family friend who often posed for the artist. She is shown raising her arms to tie her hair, unselfconscious despite her state of partial undress. Although the painting was widely praised when it was exhibited at an Impressionist exhibition in 1886, it remained unsold and was eventually acquired by the artist’s friend Claude Monet. The painting was acquired by Sterling and Francine Clark in 1949.

Looking and Lunching is free with gallery admission; arrive early to pre-order and purchase your meal or bring your own lunch. Limited seating available.

ABOUT THE CLARK

The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 270,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, children 18 and younger, and students with valid ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; EBT Card to Culture; Bank of America Museums on Us; and Blue Star Museums. For more information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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