Qld Art Gallery Exhibit; Modern Woman: Daughters and Lovers 1850 — 1918 | Drawings from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris

This afternoon, I went along to the Qld Art Gallery to see the above exhibit.  It was amazing.  I spent 4 hours wandering through the exhibit, exaniming the artworks.  One of my all favourite of Degas' work,  Dancer sitting, leaning forward, she massages her left foot) 1881–83  was there, so I sketched it!  Oh joy.

The exhibition is well worth seeing, and I hope it comes to your town.. It celebrates the changing roles of women during the Belle Époque as depicted by leading artists of the time such as Edgar Degas, Pierre—Auguste Renoir, Edouard Vuillard, Edouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre Bonnard, Auguste Rodin, Berthe Morisot and Jean François Millet. These artists increasingly abandoned idealised representations of the female figure, and turned to women from a diverse range of socioeconomic backgrounds, depicting them in their family lives and domestic activities, as well as in the public realm as spectators, performers and workers. Through these fascinating drawings, we see French society undergoing radical transformation. 

While I was waiting for my ride to come pick me up at 5.00pm, I sat at the Qld State Library Cafe, and listened to a three piece band playing.  I still had my sketchbook in my hand.