What's Your Favorite?

I have a calendar in my studio that Steve got for me. Everyday you slide out a page to reveal the next day behind it. It features a nice 4 inch by 4 inch photo of a famous piece of art with the date in small letters on the top. Why have all that month and day text getting in the way. Some days I will turn the card to the current day and know it is going to be a great art day based on the photo. The other day Steve caught me up to date on my calendar ( show week got me behind a few days) and said, " Oh, my favorite painting is coming up on Monday." Hmmm, what is Steve's favorite painting? The conversation went like this:

Oh "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey?"

No, but that is a fantastic painting.

Hmmm, OH "Bathers At Asnieres"!

Oh, that is a great painting but no.

"Paris Street ;Rainy day"?

No, again amazing painting but that isn't it.

This went on for several more minutes before I gave up. When he revealed it was Seurat's "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" I was surprised. Now don't misunderstand, that is a jaw dropping painting. I guess I was a bit shamed face I didn't know. If you have never seen the painting the people are pretty much life size and the painting was done in pointillism, a thousand dots of paint coming together to create this scene with hidden references and political statements. It is at the Chicago Art Institute and is worth planning a good 20 minutes sitting on the bench in front of it taking it all in. If you are of my generation and remember the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" there is a key scene in that movie featuring that painting in the Art Institute. Our conversation continued for about an hour as I pulled out my art books with the sun streaming through the windows. We discussed all the great art we have had the privilege of seeing in this country as well as Europe. I did feel bad that I didn't know his favorite painting but when you think about all the wonderful work created and being created it's no wonder I didn't. What is my favorite painting? Let's grab a pot of tea and I'll tell you.