Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century

I don't normally like to visit museums on bright and sunny days but I may make an exception for the new Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibition that opens today at the Museum of Modern Art. Over 300 hundred photographs that span his amazing career will be on view until June 28, 2010. My favorites are his old world views of Europe and his modern look at America. I'd also say that he was the pioneer of today's popular street fashion photography. Can you imagine if Henri Cartier-Bresson had a blog?! I definitely wouldn't wait for a rainy day to see this amazing exhibition!

“It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1952

"Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick." — Henri Cartier-Bresson

“Actually, I'm not all that interested in the subject of photography. Once the picture is in the box, I'm not all that interested in what happens next. Hunters, after all, aren't cooks.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

“Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

“The most difficult thing for me is a portrait. You have to try and put your camera between the skin of a person and his shirt.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

“The creative act lasts but a brief moment, a lightning instant of give-and-take, just long enough for you to level the camera and to trap the fleeting prey in your little box.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

“The photograph itself doesn't interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

Photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson

Chic in LA: The Getty

I didn't spend all my time in LA shopping or visiting design stores, I did make time to visit the breathtakingly beautiful Getty Center museum. The museum was designed by architect Richard Meier and is perched on a hill overlooking the city and ocean, when you can see it through the smog, I mean fog. It's probably the only museums that has views outside that rival the artwork inside! Christian of Maison21, my tour guide, told me a story about how the entire museum was supposed to be built out of Meier's signature matte aluminum siding but the residents of the area had different ideas so most of the buildings were clad in travertine instead. The undulating museum connects better to the natural landscape and sits like a modern day Acropolis surveying the city below. It's definitely worth a visit on your next trip to LA, in between shopping and design stores of course.

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Living in LA

Since I'm off to LaLa Land, I thought I'd take this time to post some great Los Angeles homes. This one belongs to the chic married couple Michael Govan and Katherine Ross and family. He's the Director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and she has worked in public relations for LVMH. Not sure if she's still with them but regardless, this is one fashionable family! When they moved to LA, they wanted a Richard Neutra house but has clearly made due with this lovely home filled with their art collection as well as pieces borrowed from the museum. When I think of California design, I often think of mid-century modern furniture and I love all the bright colors they used for their pieces. It's a pop art paradise! Enjoy!

Photos by Francois Halard for May 2008 issue of Vogue

Matisse: Radical Invention

Does it ever warm up in Chicago? If it does, I may have to book a trip so I can see the Matisse exhibition that opens on March 20th at The Art Institute of Chicago. Matisse: Radical Invention 1913-1917 "examines what is without question the most innovative, momentous, and yet little-studied time in the artist’s long career." Nearly 120 of his most ambitious and experimental paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints from the period are on view until June 20, 2010. Matisse is one of my favorite artists and I can already imagine that this will be a spectacular exhibition. Book your tickets now!

Creativity takes courage. - Henri Matisse

Tourist Time

Right about now, Stefan and I are probably in full tourist mode which will include a quick walk through of the Louvre. I know that's not exactly possible but we're going to give it our best shot! And while doing so, I'll sure we'll look just like the tourists in this Thomas Struth photo, albeit better dressed, of course!

Why Don't You...

Why don't you check out some of these amazing museum exhibitions this weekend now that they weather has turned cold!

I still can't believe I haven't been down to the New Museum to check out the first American retrospective of artist Elizabeth Peyton's artwork. There are over 100 of her works on display so you might want to allow extra time for viewing. I know I could stare at her portraits all day so I just might have to!

In addition to Van Gogh, MoMA also has a wonderful exhibition entitled Kirchner and the Berlin Street which chronicles the street scenes of German Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner that were painted between 1913 to 1915. They are considered some of his best works so check them out before the show says auf wiedersehen on November 10th.

As someone who's studied art history, I have many favorite artists and Vermeer is chief among them. The fact that there are only 35 known works of his art in existence and that The Frick owns three of them always amazes me. These three paintings have not been seen together in over 10 years so this is a special treat. Just make sure you get there before November 2nd!

One of my readers was kind enough to remind me that the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum has a lovely exhibit of 19th-century watercolor interiors from the Thaw Collection on display through January 25, 2009. They are so beautiful and intricate that I can't believe they are watercolors!

Everyone keeps telling me that I have to check out the Giorgio Morandi exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know much about this artist so that makes me want to see it even more. Morandi is touted by The Met as "one of the greatest 20th-century masters of still-life and landscape painting in the tradition of Chardin and Cézanne." Pretty impressive!