I hate museums. I formed this prejudice at age ten on a school trip to none other than The Met. But what can you do when eating out everyday while not having a job suddenly hits you as not the best idea? You google cheap hangout options, go to The Met, donate a dollar and actually have a pretty decent time.
Upon entering the museum, I could not help but feel overwhelmed. Where do I even begin? Well, always follow where your heart takes you right? My heart took me up the grand staircase to the European paintings. I promised myself this time around I was actually going to try to make something of my experience. I decided to look at each piece of art and generate my own meaning and opinion for it before reading the label. I was completely off most of the time but that is what makes art interesting. There aren’t any inherent meanings behind each piece. Each piece of art is open to the viewer’s interpretation. One piece that caught my attention was “The Penitent Magdalen” by Georges de La Tour in Gallery 618. I saw a broken woman who is longing for a loved one who has passed away; a woman who wants a break from her extravagant lifestyle. The label revealed, however, that the woman in the painting is Mary Magdalen and the objects around her were simply just symbols of who she was.
My favorite section of those that I visited would be the Chinese Decorative Arts section. The hard-stone carvings were so intricate and beautiful. Incredibly detailed and complex landscapes were depicted on stones that were merely a few inches wide. What also stood out to me were the miniature snuff bottles which were used to hold finely grounded tobacco. Each was unique in their design and shape.
I was able to learn so much in such a small amount of time. Exploring the different cultures and art of so many different places was truly an eye-opening experience. Each piece of art had a unique story behind it and I am upset at myself for not revisiting sooner. Attending Baruch, a school in the city, I have come to realize that the city has so much to offer. There are so many places that I have yet to visit that are literally right there.
I will definitely return to The Met and visit other museums in the near future.