Even if you don’t consider yourself someone who likes “art,” you should give the Museum of Fine Arts a try. It’s more than just an excellent collection of paintings and sculptures. It’s a really good museum. There’s a difference between those two labels. It comes down to the atmosphere that it creates with its exhibits. In terms of the fine arts that it has on display, the MFA can go brush-for-brush with anybody.
They’ve got works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Picasso. Want to see some Impressionist paintings by Monet? He’s got his own room. Those paintings certainly give the MFA clout as an institution. But what makes the museum really worth exploring is how it shifts atmospheres and adapts the space to the artwork that’s displayed. That even extends beyond what you might normally describe as “fine arts.”
Personally, I enjoy the classic works by famous painters. But those weren’t the biggest highlight for me. No, the one thing that stuck with me the most was this incredible dollhouse-like display built into a fine wooden cabinet. Does this qualify as the “Fine Arts?” I don’t know. All that matters is that I found it really cool.
The MFA’s greatest asset is the way that the experience evolves and adapts to different tastes. One moment, you’ll walk through the palatial furnishings of the Koch Gallery, which displays the Old Masters of Europe. Eventually, you’ll step into the collection of Asian art and find yourself standing inside the meditative calm of the Japanese Buddhist Temple room. Later, the tone will shift again as you step through the bare, echoing halls displaying modern art that stand in quiet, contemplative isolation.
You don’t have to like everything in the MFA. You probably won’t. The key to enjoying your time there isn’t to evenly parse out your trip across the entire museum. You’ll have a much better time if you find that little niche that resonates with you.
I always think back to a trip I took with my father a few years ago. I was enamored with a temporary exhibit highlighting Jean-Michel Basquiat and other works of the post-graffiti movement. He wanted to see the Renaissance-era paintings.
Those two things are miles apart in taste. We both had a great time. This would have been true even if there hadn’t been a conventional genre of art that spoke to us. It’s the museum of “Fine Arts.” But there is zero requirement to look at works from famous painters. There isn’t someone at the exit who’s going to grab you by the collar and demands that you explain why Picasso’s works are important or what stood out to you about the Impressionist movement.
It is 100% valid to go to the MFA and come away thinking, “Man, the room with the mummies was the best part.” The exhibit on the art and history of Ancient Egypt is one of the museum’s biggest highlights.
Yes, the paintings by the Dutch Masters are cultural treasures. But you know what else is cool? The New American Cafe restaurant is in a giant indoor courtyard with a giant cartoonish dog sculpture and a 42-foot-tall “Lime Green Icicle Tower” that looks like a massive cactus. For me, some of the most interesting elements of the MFA are the small rooms and wings that highlight history and culture.
On the first floor, there’s a wing focusing on art from the American Revolution, highlighted by portraits of Samuel Adams and George Washington.
Elsewhere, there’s a dark, intimate room dedicated to jewelry. It’s like navigating a cave or vault protecting precious gems. Next door to that, there’s an exhibit showcasing incredible musical instruments from different eras. Inside, you’ll find immaculately painted pianos, eye-catching electric guitars and bizarre instruments that will have you wondering how they were ever played.
The Museum of Fine Arts first opened in 1870 and moved to its current location in 1909. For an institution that predates even Fenway Park, it does a good job of adapting to the times. Like many museums, the MFA holds classes, special exhibitions and lectures. They also have a number of programs, many of which can be accessed online. But what stood out to me is the way the museum is open to pushing the envelope even in conventional galleries. It’s great to see the Art of the Americas exhibit being updated for the upcoming America 250 celebrations. That much is to be expected.
What was really striking was to see a modern work among many Revolutionary War-era portraits of powerful figures. You’ve probably seen a portrait like the one on the right a million times. The work on the left aims to invoke that same pose from an individual in power, just with an individual who’s not typically the subject of such a portrait.
Tribune News Service