Works of Art, As They're Displayed in Museums

Here's a collection of photos of well known paintings as they appear in some of the finest museums of the world. Its purpose is to give a viewer some sense of the physical size of the works, how they're framed and how they're hung. The photos aren't intended to be high-quality reproductions of iconic images, which can be found in books and elsewhere on the web.

Some issues associated with photographing paintings in public museums are discussed below the picture collection.

ArtistTitle,
Museum, Location,
Date Viewed
Thumbnail
(Click for larger image)
Comment
Edgar Degas Absinthe

Musee d'Orsay, Paris

May, 2008
-
Thomas Eakins The Champion Single Sculls (Max Schmitt in a Single Scull)

Metropolitan, New York

May, 2012
-
Vincent Van Gogh Self Portrait with Straw Hat

Metropolitan, New York

May, 2012
Other Van Gogh paintings are in the same room.
Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-
Jasper Johns Target with Four Faces

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-
Fernand Leger Three Women

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
This work was displayed in the "Picasso to Warhol" exhibition at the High Museum, Atlanta, February, 2012.[1]
Emanuel Leutze Washington Crossing the Delaware

Metropolitan, New York

May, 2012
It's huge.
Roy Lichtenstein Girl with Ball

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-
Edouard Manet The Balcony

Musee d'Orsay, Paris

May, 2008
-
Edouard Manet Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe

Musee d'Orsay, Paris

May, 2008
-
Edouard Manet Olympia

Musee d'Orsay, Paris

May, 2008
-
Henri Matisse Dance (I)

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
This work was displayed in the "Picasso to Warhol" exhibition at the High Museum, Atlanta, February, 2012.[1]
Piet Mondrian Broadway Boogie Woogie

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-
Claude Monet Water Lilies

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-
Claude Monet Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe

Musee d'Orsay, Paris

May, 2008
Compare with painting of same title by Manet.
Claude Monet Water Lillies

Musee de Orangerie, Paris

May, 2008
-
Pablo Picasso Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-
Pablo Picasso Girl Before a Mirror

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
This work was displayed in the "Picasso to Warhol" exhibition at the High Museum, Atlanta, February, 2012.[1]
Pablo Picasso Three Musicians

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-
Jackson Pollock One: Number 31, 1950

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-
John Singer Sargent Madame X

Metropolitan, New York

May, 2012
-
Andy Warhol Mao

Metropolitan, New York

May, 2012
-
James McNeill Whistler Portrait in Gray and Black

Musee d'Orsay, Paris

May, 2008
Also known as "Whistler's Mother".
Andrew Wyeth Christina's World

Museum of Modern Art, New York

May, 2012
-

Problems Photographing Art in Public Museums. The main problem is that most art museums don't permit photography. Of those that do allow it, none that I'm aware of allows the flash. Picture quality is then dependent on the ambient lighting. If the light is low, the photo will be blurry.

Another problem is crowding. Popular works often have crowds around them, so it's hard to frame a shot giving an unobstructed view of a painting and its surroundings. (Note the extraneous finger in the photo of Picasso's Girl Before a Mirror.)

These problems were illustrated in a recent visit to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. At the time of that visit, the MOMA was hosting a multi-room Cindy Sherman exhibition, where photography wasn't permitted. Non-flash photography was, however, allowed elsewhere in this huge museum but the light level varied considerably from room to room.

One of the most popular paintings in the MOMA's permanent collection was Van Gogh's Starry Night, which is seen above. Around it was a persistent crowd, many members of which were clicking away with their smartphones and digital cameras. The light level in this room was marginal for non-flash photography and sometimes a flash would go off. This would prompt immediate intervention by a security guard, who'd lecture the offender about museum rules.

The ubiquity of smartphone cameras with good light sensitivity presents an enforcement problem for museum managers. The problem is most severe in museums that are frequently packed with visitors. I noticed some illegal picture-taking recently at the Guggenheim in New York and I've heard that such violations are now blatant at the Ufizzi in Florence. How can museums enforce their rules without creating a prison-like atmosphere for art lovers? I suspect they'll eventually give up and change the rules.


[1] Photography by the general public was not permitted at the High Museum's "Picasso to Warhol" exhibition. However, the rules may have been overlooked for a party on January 28, 2012.