Everyone loves the Impressionists. Manet, Monet, Degas, Van Gogh — we are all familiar with most of their works. Now another barely-known impressionist from that same era in Paris — and very good friends with all the greats we know — has emerged.
Gustave Caillebotte Paris Street, Rainy Day, 1877 Oil on canvas 83 9/16 × 108 3/4 in. (212.2 × 276.2 cm) The Art Institute of Chicago, Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection
Gustave Caillebotte [pronounced Kay-bot] has one painting that most everyone is familiar with Paris Street, Rainy Day, but most don't know his name. Only four museums have possession of one of his paintings, all the rest of his masterful works have been owned by the family or in private collections and not available to show to the public.
Until now.
The Kimbell has assembled 55 of his paintings from 1875 to 1885 in one show — the largest exhibition of Caillebotte's genius in 20 years.
Gustave Caillebotte A Boating Party, 1877–78 Oil on canvas 35 7/16 × 46 1/16 in. (90 × 117 cm) Private collection © Comité Caillebotte
The artist's subjects are scenes of daily life in Parisian apartments and on its busy streets, portraits of friends and family, and interesting still lifes. All of the paintings are about the viewer's point of view — radical perspective — as if the viewer were in the picture. His works have engaging and inclusive vanishing points and they suck you into them.
His portraits are more casual, as if encountering the subject during their daily life, and the furniture plays an important role in each one.
Gustave Caillebotte Chicken, Game Birds, and Hares, c. 1882 Oil on canvas 29 15/16 × 41 5/16 in. (76 × 105 cm) Private collection
His still lifes are unusual as well. Instead of pretty pictures of fruit or a vase of flowers he chooses butchered animals in a shop. Caillebotte was fascinated with daily life.
Gustave Caillebotte:The Painter's Eye runs Nov. 8 through Feb. 14 and is on view in the Renzo Piano Pavillion.
For any lovers of the Impressionist movement this is one exhibit not to be missed.
