National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Athens, Greece
Hey Friends!
Do you like art? Do you like museums? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you should visit an art museum!
If you're looking for a dose of culture, you'll find it at your local art museum. Art museums are repositories for the world's great art, from ancient masterpieces to cutting-edge contemporary works. They're also educational institutions, providing a place for people of all ages to learn about the history of art and about the artists who created it. Most art museums are nonprofit organizations, supported by donations from individuals and businesses as well as by government funding. They're typically housed in large, architecturally significant buildings, which can themselves be works of art. Admission to art museums is typically free, although some museums do charge a small fee for special exhibitions.
Art museums are a great way to learn about art and see some of the best art in the world. Most art museums have a variety of exhibits, so you can see a lot of different art in a short time. They're also a great place to take a break from the outside world and relax for a few hours.
The Alexandros Soutsos Museum is a must-see attraction when visiting Athens, Greece. This museum is home to an extensive collection of artwork from various periods, including pieces by famous artists like Rembrandt, Rubens, and van Dyck. In addition to the artwork, the museum also features a library, sculpture garden, and cafe.
The other day I had the pleasure of visiting this art museum and took in the sights. Here is my wander into the halls of famous paintings. Grab your paint brush and let's go on an adventure into this art museum.
National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
Location : Leof. Vasileos Konstantinou 50, Athina 115 25
Google Map Link : https://goo.gl/maps/vW9NUh7izihPteSG8
Webpage: https://www.nationalgallery.gr/el/
If there is one thing in Athens that will take your breath away, it is the National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum. This museum is home to some of the most breathtaking artwork in the world. Located in the heart of Athens, it is the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring. With stunning paintings by the likes of El Greco and Rembrandt, you are sure to be in for a treat.
But, take note. It is closed on Tuesdays. However, on Wednesday it is open late till 20:00. That is good for me as I spend my morning working on D.Buzz, then in the evening, take time off for an adventure.
The ticket was €15, and that covered the price for the full exhibit and the temporary exhibit. The first floor had more of what I would say as classical art, then as you walk up the floors, the art gets more modern and strange. Hahaha.
This was one of the first works I took a photo of... The uniforms of the fighters, so colorful, so bright.
Also, what I noticed was a lot of the paintings here, featured Greek men with mustaches. Not your standard donut duster, but handlebar mustaches. Nice!
This is the first drawing I did while here. I only had about 1.5 hours before it closed, so, it was a quick sketch... not too happy with how the lips turned out, but the painting was great!
Here is a closer up photo of the painting... nice!
There were 2 main ways up and down. An internal set of stairs and then a more fancy ramp thing. I did not see any elevators...but I assume they must have them some place.
That was also a problem I had with this place... poor signs pointing you to places Like the WC was hard to find, and the men's and women's bathrooms were hard to tell apart. hahaha. But, that's not the point about this article.
Pro Tip, take the ramp down and the internal stairs up.
Inside stairs
Outside ramp
On the second floor, you have prints and a bit more modern art. This work of a fish was very cool. I think it is a wood block cut and print.
This work was amazing, also on the second floor. It was a stipple painting of Jesus. The murky blue, like a creature in the deep rising up. I think the frame also added to the effect... very nice.
This was another work I found to be interesting on the second floor.
Which is better: modern art or classical art? This is a question that has been debated for centuries, and there is no easy answer. Some people prefer the classical art of the past, with its intricate details and beautiful paintings. Others prefer the more contemporary, abstract art that is popular today. There are pros and cons to both styles, and it really comes down to personal preference.
But the floors were laid out very nice.
On the top floor, you get to the modern art.
What is art? According to Webster's Art is "the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power." But what about modern art? Is it still considered art? Many people would say that modern art is not art at all. They believe that art should be pretty and/or have an emotional message, not just be a bunch of random shapes or colors. I happen to disagree. I believe that modern art can be beautiful and emotional, it's just harder to understand.
Even though most of the top floor was way out art, some of it was more in grasp and cool, like this betel statue.
Having only had about 35 minutes before the museum closed, I wanted to see the temporary exhibition as well, so I headed back down the stairs and made a b-line to the -2 floor of the main building.
The temporary exhibition was "Faces of Art". With some famous paintings from the Louvre Museum in Paris on display here.
When I arrived, there was a crowd, so I walked around and saw this man looking at this work of art. To be quite honest here... When I first saw the guy, he was not moving... His head, was the same color as the painted faces. I thought it was a statue and part of the work. I took this photo, and stood looking at him... he did not move for a good 5 minutes, then he moved, and I was shocked. Hahahah.
This bust I sorta fell in love with. The color, then designs. SO with only 10 min before it closed, I did what any artist would do ...
I did a quick sketch of it. Hahahha (*Sorry for the bad photo too).
This was another sculpture that was wild.
This next one is a death mask.
Death masks are a macabre reminder of mortality. They are created when a person dies, and their face is preserved in a plaster cast. Death masks have been used throughout history to commemorate the dead, and to help loved ones feel closer to them. Some death masks are incredibly lifelike, and can give people a disturbing glimpse into what a person's face looks like after death.
To lighten the mood a little, here is another guy with a good mustache! Woot!
I am not sure what the skull with a cross on it means...
The National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum is a great museum to visit if you're interested in Greek art. The museum has a large collection of paintings and sculptures from the 18th and 19th centuries. The building itself is also worth seeing, and the gardens are a nice place to relax.
Thank you for joining me and I hope you enjoyed this post about the National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Athens, Greece!
Cheers
| Travel Photos: | @RoamingSparrow |
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