Pillars of the Collection

About the Workshop

The Barnes is home to iconic paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso—artists often referred to as the pillars of the collection. But also hanging in our storied galleries are important works by artists such as El Greco, Manet, Rousseau, and Van Gogh. In this one-day workshop, we’ll immerse ourselves in the brushwork and details of paintings by all of these renowned artists and discuss their aesthetic qualities to better understand their role in the history of art and in Dr. Albert C. Barnes’s educational philosophy. This workshop is ideal for both newcomers and seasoned Barnes students.

Paintings we will discuss include Renoir’s Artist’s Family, Cézanne’s Card Players, Matisse’s Joy of Life, Picasso’s Composition: The Peasants, El Greco’s Apparition of the Virgin and Child to Saint Hyacinth, Manet’s Laundry, Rousseau’s Scouts Attacked by a Tiger, and Van Gogh’s Postman.

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.

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Recent Barnes Class Testimonials

“Naina Saligram is the professor everyone hopes to have. She is knowledgeable and open to listening to her students.” The Classical Tradition in Modern Art with Naina Saligram

“Joe Tokumasu Field was a wonderful instructor—very patient, caring, and skilled at interacting with students’ questions and comments.” The Japanese American Century with Joseph Tokumasu Field

“Kaelin got us involved in the conversation in a way that made it engaging and fun. I learned so much and didn’t feel like I was just being lectured at the whole time. The class was well paced and covered the basics without oversimplification.” The Language of Painting with Kaelin Jewell

“I love these close-looking classes; [it’s great] to see the details of each painting and to have an instructor lead our eyes in how best to look at a work of art.” Close-Looking Immersion: Glackens’s The Raft with William Perthes

“The instructor was amazing! She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and open to questions. She brought in outside resources and made herself available via email for questions between classes. I would take anything she teaches.” The Impressionists: Friends and Family with Caterina Pierre