Every time I take a trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), I find myself gravitating towards the iconic Impressionist landscapes. From Vincent van Gogh to Claude Monet, I have always stopped at their pieces first on my journey through The Met. This time, however, after climbing the iconic staircase, I stopped in the Drawing and Prints room to look at the new exhibition: “Allegory and Abstraction.” I am not too proud to admit that in the past I have breezed through this room, half glancing at the art, as I journey to the 19th and 20th-century European Paintings and Sculptures wing.
Art has the power to evoke more meaning than it depicts whether that be a deeper story, idea or feeling with the help of allegory. These deeper meanings can be suggested through the choices of lines, colors and numerous other abstraction methods.
I found that the most striking piece in the “Allegory and Abstraction” exhibition is that of Henri Matisse. While on the surface his art pieces seem to simply be colorful paper prints, the meanings behind his symbols are very profound and captivating. For example, in his collection “Jazz,” Matisse’s art takes inspiration primarily from the circus to represent his deeper ideas.
One of my favorite pieces I saw is “The Nightmare of the White Elephant” from “Jazz.” Through the use of symbols Matisse depicts a white elephant balancing on a ball for the entertainment of the circus audience. The lighthearted nature quickly disappears with the accompaniment of the undulating black lines, representing the ringmaster’s whip as well as the sharp red lines, which represent the agony experienced by the elephant. This print evokes feelings of confinement, anguish and brutality. I found this piece especially captivating because of the impactful interplay of abstraction and allegory. This print, alongside others in his collection, produces a joyful tone, with the bright colors and bold shapes, while also alluding, covertly, to the dark days in France during World War II.
The interactive nature of this style of art was very interesting. It wasn’t as simple as looking at a beautiful and detailed landscape, but complex in interpretation and meaning. Honestly, I had not found abstract art very compelling before viewing this exhibition, but after taking the time to internalize the meanings of the interplay of symbols, I saw the profound creativity that comes with this style of art. It is almost instinctual for people to view these pieces and think “I can do that,” which I am guilty of doing from time to time. However, underneath the surface of what seems to be simplistic art are stories that should have a much greater appreciation.
Alongside the works of Matisse was a collection from Louise Bourgeois’ illustrated book “He Disappeared into Complete Silence.” Her nine prints are described as being a psychological self-portrait of Bourgeois as a mother, wife, daughter and immigrant. The relationship between the symbols and allegory of this piece is beautifully depicted throughout her architectural prints.
Art is meant to make people feel. Happiness, sadness, fear and maybe even anger can form in someone while looking at a piece of art. While surveying the numerous drawings and prints of Matisse and others, I was first confused, then delightfully surprised by the storytelling and symbolism. Even after leaving The Met, I continued to reflect on the levels of creativity in the many pieces of art I viewed.
During my time in the Drawing and Prints room, I observed many individuals passing by while in conversation with one another. Without glancing at the work on the walls or reading who it’s by and why they created it, most people walked through this room as if it was any other hallway. I usually would do the same, so viewing the act of passing up art from a different point of view made me reconsider my approach to The Met. Spending time with the abstract prints, I became more aware of the vast amount of talent in the art world that goes far beyond the iconic names known around society today.
Overall, my experience viewing the artwork inside the Drawings and Prints room of The Met was very enjoyable. This exhibition, “Allegory and Abstraction,” is open until Dec. 9, so I highly recommend stopping by to explore the unexpected nuances of this art style.
