SavvyCollector

Hokusai's rendition of Fujisan is second only to his depiction of the Great Wave, totally iconic!

Whistler's identification of the influence of Japanese woodblock prints on American art. 1853 was the year Japan was first visited by Admiral Matthew Perry, exposing the West to Japan through direct contact.

Rembrandt's self portrait is an invitation into the psyche of the sitter versus a photo realistic depiction of Rembrandt's face.

Munch's Vampire in some ways is more piercing than "The Scream" and certainly more brutal. Color saturation is intense as well to match its emotional richness.

Even his birds, horses and fruit are all fat!

Both timeless and inextricably linked to the time in which they were created, Nadelman's work appeals to a very wide audience, no explanation is required.

This man could draw, individualizing each subject!

An extremely inventive, while compassionate artist--Norman Rockwell has been vastly underrated.

Winslow Homer's depiction of the ocean in oil--it is glorious!

Sometimes I think Gauguin's story was more compelling than his talent, setting aside a law practice for painting in Tahiti.

Beautiful watercolors and oils depicting the sea and people !

Every Hopper painting uses Thalo green, a transparent blue green pigment AND is solidly composed.

How can you not herald Monet's waterlillies, the reflections on the pond's surface?

Texture coupled with strong emotional content is what Tamayo brought us.

To pick just one Van Gogh seems a near impossible task!

Monet's investigation of the haystacks at different times of the day, shadows and light shifting.

You can see her in the National Gallery with another painting on the back of the panel--a privilege !

This painting demonstrates the painterly strength of Sargent as well as any of his "pretty ladies in gowns".

The tumultuous relationship between Paul and Vincent and their parallel explorations in paint were beautifully revealed in an exhibit in Holland in 2001 presenting the work of each artist when they shared time and space.

A world unto himself, Paul Klee gave us glimpses through his art--at once, humor and insight!

La Grande Jatte is an enormous, commanding statement in paint--unimmaginable, until you stand before it!

O'Keefe's best work had more to do with drawing than painting. Charcoal expressions at the O'Keefe Museum in Santa Fe make this perfectly clear.

This jar (olla) being from Acoma has thin, graceful walls, enhanced by paint application emphasizing its beauteous form, on the cusp between historic and contemporary AI pottery.

Marc's career was criminally short, spanning just 36 years. Superior color infusion, beautiful content, what else he might have shared with us will remain a mystery.

Millet's paintings paid homage to the peasants, the working class. Their honest labor was depicted with a reverence rarely directed toward people of their station. The sky, the land, the surrounding area likewise echoed this sentiment.

Ballet was likewise elevated through Degas' drawings and paintings, entirely unique to his portrayals.

This composition by Manet is unlike any other painting due to the split attention of his sitters, the unlikely pairing of three clothed figures in close proximity to one nude woman.

A gifted woman painter who did not receive her full due.

Not the iconic Caillbotte featuring Parisians carrying umbrellas beneath a grey sky, but a majestic picture by an artist heralded relatively late in time.

Another demonstration of Caillebotte's superior draughtsmanship and unique choice of perspective.

Those lions looking out at us in this other worldly scene is pure Rousseau--its title "The Dream" is perfect !

There is always something kind of odd about Redon's vision, even his floral still lifes are a little unsettling. His charcoal drawings of "creatures" go beyond offputting.

Benin bronzes are unlike any other heads in bronze, their execution as detailed as they are seems unlikely and yet they stare at you as utter proof, they are as exquisite as they seem to be.

The animation in this tiny sculpture is utterly winning ! You can see rows of netsuke at the museum beside the LA County Museum and many other venues.

These Chinese bronze wine vessels predate Benin bronzes and they too beckon a wave of appreciation.

Meiji moments in woodblock prints are peppered with bright color and drama. Chickanobu and Yoshitoshi were two leading Meiji woodblock print designers.

Bert Phillips and the other Taos founders ennobled the American Indian as sensitive citizens as opposed to portrayals previously as bloody savages. You sense Phillips' respect for this man and his horse.

The word that comes to mind for Tony Da's creation in black clay is "elegant". His superior sense of design was balanced, never crowded or hesitant.

I need to read more about Alexandre Hogue the individual behind this unique landscape.

If you are going to spend over $100,000 for a basket, let it be one of Louise Keyser's creations. The form , the design, the execution is nearly unrivalled amongst Washoe basketmakers of the 20th century.

Couse was another Taos founder who chose to memorialize a culture not previously seen as worthy of appreciation to this degree. This is a masterful example of Couse's best work.

Vermeer's interior scenes, a myriad of different textures, a play of light on faces--you always know a painting is his.

Majestic mountains, mist--nature dwarfs man in Moran's masterful landscapes.

Hennings, a Taos founder, shared the majesty of New Mexico's sky, land, flora, fauna and people.

Durer's engravings are pristine statements we simply admire at a glance.

Remington gave all us "city folks" a bird's eye view of life in the West! The dust is palpable!

Caravaggio's flesh can bleed. There can be dirt under the nails plus we also reflect on the internal machinations of their minds.

Mary Cassatt's Boating Party in many ways is more compelling than Renoir's. We sit slightly behind the man rowing the boat for a woman whose eyes are glued to the oarsman, as are her child's.

More drama, a multitude of bright and subtle colors from Yoshitoshi, a master of Meiji woodblock print designs.