During my trip to [[New York]] on 2025 for [[SDSC New York 2025|SDSC]], I had the chance to visit the [[The Metropolitan Museum of Art|Met]]. It was a very quick visit, but there were several paintings I really wanted to take a look at, just like the rooftop. These are some quick notes of the pieces that impressed me the most. ## General Collection - [[Henri Matisse]]'s [[Jazz - Henri Matisse (1947)|Jazz]] (1947). Illustrated book with 20 [[Pochoir|pochoir]] (stencil) plates, including *Icarus*, *Le Cirque*, *The Sword Swallower*. Pure [[Henri Matisse|Matisse]], with vibrant colors and strong shapes. - [[John Wilson (artist)|John Wilson]]'s exhibition: *"Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson"* (Sep 20, 2025 – Feb 8, 2026). Charcoal drawings, prints and paintings depicting Black American life and social justice. It was randomly placed on a corridor and I loved it. - [[The Abduction of Rebecca - Eugène Delacroix (1846)|The Abduction of Rebecca]] by [[Eugène Delacroix]]. - [[Théodore Géricault]]'s [[Evening - Landscape with an Aqueduct - Théodore Géricault (1818)|Evening: Landscape with an Aqueduct]]: absolutely monumental (250 × 220 cm), with beautiful lightning from that era. - A room full of not only [[Islamic art]], but European depictions of North Africa countries. - I found by accident a [[Joaquín Sorolla|Sorolla]]! [[The Bath, Jávea - Joaquín Sorolla (1905)|The Bath, Jávea]]. Gorgeous, just as everything he did. ## Modern Art Wing - [[Mark Rothko]]'s [[No. 16 - Mark Rothko (1960)|No. 16]] side by side with [[Jackson Pollock]]'s [[Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) - Jackson Pollock (1950)|Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)]]. Two massive paintings; being [[Mark Rothko|Rothko]] one of my favorite artists. I can say after this visit, I feel much more fond of [[Jackson Pollock]]. - [[White Flag - Jasper Johns (1955)|White Flag]] by [[Jasper Johns]]. - [[Madonna - Salvador Dalí (1958)|Madonna]] by [[Salvador Dalí]]. I am not a great fan of [[Salvador Dalí]], but I found this piece extremely shocking in person. - [[The Guiding Light - Harold Ancart (2021)|The Guiding Light]] by [[Harold Ancart]], which I found absolutely beautiful. - [[Necklacing - Michael Armitage (2016)|Necklacing]] by [[Michael Armitage]], probably the one that shook me the most from the whole museum. - [[Everything 4 - Adrian Piper (2004)|Everything #4]] by [[Adrian Piper]], a very simple idea with a wonderful execution. - [[Composition - Piet Mondrian (1921)|Composition]] by [[Piet Mondrian]], an artist I don't like a lot proving that there are slightly more interesting works than their most mainstream ones. - [[Painting - Joan Miró (1927)|Painting]] by [[Joan Miró]], which I find terrible every single time, with no redemption yet. - [[America Today - Thomas Hart Benton (1930)|America Today]] by [[Thomas Hart Benton]]. Whole room dedicated to a mural depicting his views on the country. Impressive. ## Black Fashion Exhibit I didn't spend much time, but I enjoyed the lineup and the fact that they explain the origins of [[Dandyism|dandyism]] as a disguise in front of oppresion. It included pieces from [[Fear of God (brand)|Fear of God]] and [[Off-White]]. ## European Paintings I found this wing very boring, but these are my highlights: - [[The Card Players - Paul Cézanne (1890)|The Card Players]] by [[Paul Cézanne]], *Mont Sainte-Victoire*, *Madame Cézanne in a Red Dress* - [[View of Toledo - El Greco (1599)|View of Toledo]] by [[El Greco]]. One of only two surviving El Greco landscapes. - [[Gertrude Stein - Pablo Picasso (1905)|Gertrude Stein]] by [[Pablo Picasso]], an early portrait; [[The Blind Man's Meal - Pablo Picasso (1903)|The Blind Man's Meal]] ([[Blue Period]]). - [[Self-Portrait - Anthony van Dyck (1620)|Self-Portrait]] by [[Anthony van Dyck]] - [[Venus and Adonis - Peter Paul Rubens (1635)|Venus and Adonis]] by [[Peter Paul Rubens]] - [[The Fortune-Teller - Georges de La Tour (1630)|The Fortune-Teller]] by [[Georges de La Tour]] – one of the few pieces of this wing that I truly enjoyed. - [[Marie Joséphine Charlotte du Val d'Ognes - Marie Denise Villers (1801)|Marie Joséphine Charlotte du Val d'Ognes]] by [[Marie Denise Villers]]. Originally misattributed to [[Jacques-Louis David]], also known as *Young Woman Drawing*. I find this painting to be extremely haunting, and the lightning is just gorgeous. - [[The Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne - Alfred Sisley (1872)|The Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne]] by [[Alfred Sisley]] - [[The Dance Class - Edgar Degas (1874)|The Dance Class]] by [[Edgar Degas]]. Also *The Rehearsal of the Ballet Onstage*. - [[Water Lilies - Claude Monet (1919)|Water Lilies]] by [[Claude Monet]]; [[Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies - Claude Monet (1899)|Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies]]. - [[Circus Sideshow (Parade de cirque) - Georges Seurat (1887)|Circus Sideshow (Parade de cirque)]] by [[Georges Seurat]]. - [[Place de Clichy - Paul Signac (1887)|Place de Clichy]] by [[Paul Signac]]. - [[Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat - Vincent van Gogh (1887)|Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat]] by [[Vincent van Gogh]] is probably the work that attracts the most people in its room, but I mostly enjoyed [[Cypresses - Vincent van Gogh (1889)|Cypresses]] and [[Wheat Field with Cypresses - Vincent van Gogh (1889)|Wheat Field with Cypresses]]. ## American Wing Being my first time visiting the [[United States]], I felt like I had to take a look at it. It ended up being one of my favorites. These are my highlights: - [[The Ameya - Robert Frederick Blum (1893)|The Ameya (The Candy Blower)]] by [[Robert Frederick Blum]]; an incredible piece from his trip to [[Japan]] – I think it's funny this wonderful work was the first thing I noticed in this wing. - [[Camp Fire - Winslow Homer (1880)|Camp Fire]] by [[Winslow Homer]]. Another impressive Americana painting. - [[A Reconnaissance - Frederic Remington (1902)|A Reconnaissance]] by [[Frederic Remington]]. I find it incredible how the snow is painted during the night. - [[The Etcher - Stacy Tolman (1887)|The Etcher]] by [[Stacy Tolman]]. There is something about this portrait that just hits different. - A complete collection of [[Trompe-L'œil|trompe-l'œil]] still life — super modern and vertical: - [[Still Life—Violin and Music - William Michael Harnett (1888)|Still Life—Violin and Music]] by [[William Michael Harnett]] - [[The Old Cremona - John Frederick Peto (1890)|The Old Cremona]] by [[John Frederick Peto]], [[Old Souvenirs - John Frederick Peto (1881)|Old Souvenirs]] - [[A Bachelor's Drawer - John Haberle (1890)|A Bachelor's Drawer]] by [[John Haberle]] - Learning about [[John Brown]] and it's impact on the art of the era: - [[The Last Moments of John Brown - Thomas Hovenden (1882)|The Last Moments of John Brown]] by [[Thomas Hovenden]] - [[John Brown - John Steuart Curry (1939)|John Brown]] by [[John Steuart Curry]] - [[Washington Crossing the Delaware - Emanuel Leutze (1851)|Washington Crossing the Delaware]] by [[Emanuel Leutze]]. It is just massive. - [[Hudson River School]] and how they treat light: - [[The Oxbow - Thomas Cole (1836)|The Oxbow (View from Mount Holyoke)]] by [[Thomas Cole]] - [[Heart of the Andes - Frederic Edwin Church (1859)|Heart of the Andes]] by [[Frederic Edwin Church]] - [[The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak - Albert Bierstadt (1863)|The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak]] by [[Albert Bierstadt]]