Quiet whispers and gentle laughter echo throughout the gallery. A French tune plays softly in the background as people stroll from painting to painting. On Thursday night, Feb. 13, the French and Art History Student Advisory Boards co-sponsored an event “Late @ Lyman” at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, highlighting the temporary exhibition “Brought to Light: European Paintings from the Collection.”
Its robust collection of European art extends across three galleries, encompassing paintings of various time periods, places, and styles by artists all over the European continent.
A spotlight was shed on two Connecticut College students who presented on the works by French artists featured in the exhibition.
Natasha Strugatz ‘20, presented on a tall and magnificent painting, “Still Life with Flowers” by Jean-Baptiste Belin de Fontenay the Elder.
Beatrice Voorhees ’23 presented in French, on a work exemplary of the Rococo style entitled “Garden Scene” by Jacques de Lajoüe. She pointed out the peculiar asymmetry between the aristocrats strolling nonchalantly around the garden, and the rather ominous and unmatching backdrop of an architectural ruin.
After the speakers introduced the historical and artistic significance of these paintings, they engaged in lively discussions, sharing their opinions and insights on how to view the pieces.
The fusion of French and Art History is a match made in heaven: it creates a synergy that makes the experience both more accessible and attractive. The marvelous beauty of art makes the seemingly intimidating thought of foreign languages more approachable. Language, in return, enriches the experience of observing artwork by illustrating the context, with explanations on the histories, the techniques, and the narratives of the artists. Together, they remind us of the importance of harmony and cooperation of things that, on the surface, seem unrelated to each other.
A particular favorite of the guests was the mind-bending illusion by an unknown artist, located at the corner of a gallery. At a glance, the painting is a paysage of a small village on winding hills; yet once guests tilted their head 90 degrees, a humorous bearded figure appears, amusing the viewers with the gift of a pleasant surprise. At one point, everybody in the room was trying to observe the bearded man when bubbly giggles filled the gallery, with everyone suddenly conscious of the surrealness of adults and children twisting their heads in a curious angle.
Downstairs at the reception, guests enjoyed sparkling apple cider and crackers with raspberry-almond brie. There was also a craft section, where visitors could express the artistic inspirations they’ve gained from the exhibition by creating room decorations. Visitors of all ages took on the challenge, using brightly colored markers and stamps to create their own masterpieces.
The event attracted students not only in the French and/or Art History Departments, but also students of various other departments. “I’d like for this event to bring students together to have some fun after class, and introduce them to a beautiful space that is within walking distance,” said Madeline Megargee ‘20, the French SAB Chair and the main coordinator of the event. More surprisingly, local residents of the New London area also attended the event, enjoying the evening of refreshments and conversations with Connecticut College students.
Before the event, Madeline explained: “This is the first time we are doing an event like this, so it’s taken a lot of work to organize. But now that the connections are made and it’s been organized, we’ve proven that it can be done! If people respond well to this event, I do believe that we will have another one in the future.”
And people have responded well. We are hopeful for another community event of art, food, and good times.
Hallways full of fantastic paintings and the lull of the soft music make you forget that you are a busy college student. An immersive event of this kind allows you to drift away from mundane worries of due dates and daily life for a few hours to de-stress with friends, and to travel to another world of pleasant thrills and surprises.
The virtual adventure to Europe is only a five-minute walk from campus! Explore the extraordinary world of artwork to refresh your heart and mind. The exhibition is on display until Sep. 20, 2020. Admission is free for Connecticut College students. •
Photos courtesy of Reina Nakamura
