Wednesdays, June 3 – June 24, 6 – 8pm
Paul Cézanne. Still Life (detail), 1892–94. The Barnes Foundation, BF910
$220; members $198
(4 classes)
About the Class
Why was Paul Cézanne so beloved by poets, past and present? Rainer Maria Rilke revered the weight of Cézanne’s apples, dishes, and tables, describing them as “simply indestructible in their stubborn thereness.” William Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, and Allen Ginsberg were equally fascinated by the artist. Each week, we will pair individual paintings by Cézanne with one or two poems—some explicitly inspired by his work, and others not—to see what kinds of synergies bubble to the surface. Time will also be reserved for free writing in response to Cézanne’s art.
The class is online-only. More about online classes.
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Barnes classes will:
- Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
- Improve your ability to communicate about art.
- Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.
Instructor
Naina Saligram
Saligram is a fellow researching the 46 works by Picasso at the Barnes. She has previously held positions at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Yale University Art Gallery and is passionate about interdisciplinary approaches to modernism. In addition to her academic background in art history, she has studied creative nonfiction and poetry with writers including Anne Fadiman and Ellen Bass.
What Our Students Say
“The instructor is a gifted individual who is able to [engage] with all different kinds of learners and motivate us to want to learn more, see more, and experience more. I would highly recommend any course by this instructor.” —Collection Concentration: Medieval Modern with Kaelin Jewell
“Martha Lucy knows how to balance her lecture with fact, excellent painting selections, and inclusion of the students.” —The Art and Life of Toulouse-Lautrec with Martha Lucy
“The best class to understand the elements of art. The instructor’s expertise and warmth, along with the excellent discussions with my classmates, made it a truly wonderful experience.” —The Elements of Art with William Perthes
“This class offered rich insight into Picasso and his contemporaries—the gallery scene, turn-of-the-century politics, Catalan culture, along with Picasso’s approach to composition and contemporary European culture. It was so informative.” —Picasso in Focus: New Discoveries at the Barnes with Christine Romano and Naina Saligram
“Caterina loves the material she presents and infuses all her classes—of which I have taken many—with that infectious enthusiasm.” —Rendez-vous au Café: Café Culture in 19th-Century Art with Caterina Pierre
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The Restless Modernism of John Singer Sargent
Explore Sargent’s artistic evolution, from his Paris training to his “restless” portraits in London, and consider his place in modern art. Instructor: Susan Sidlauskas
Size Does Matter: A History of Miniatures in Art
What makes miniatures so fascinating? And what compels artists to work on such a tiny scale? This course shines a spotlight on the art of miniatures. Instructor: Julie Steiner