PICTURES OF THE WEEK: A Visit to the Art Institute of Chicago -- Seurat, Monet & More -- Enjoying Time with the Masters

A recent visit to the Art Institute of Chicago revealed the popularity of this iconic piece by Georges Seurat, "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" (6.60 feet by 9.8 feet) on display in Gallery 240 in the Modern Wing of the museum. During the thirty minutes I had to spend observing this piece on assignment for my master's in art history degree, at least 100 admirers enjoyed it too.

A steady stream of visitors paid homage to Seurat's pointellism piece last Monday, 9/14/2026, when I visited.

One of my very favorites! "Stacks of Wheat" (Sunset, Snow Effect) oil on canvas, Claude Monet

Love this one too! "Water Lilies" oil on canvas by Claude Monet. He writes to a friend, "Know that I am absorbed by my work. These landscapes of water and reflections have become an obsession." And, speaking personally as an art journalist, art appreciator, and art graduate student, I am so glad this was the case! This piece is breathtaking!

"Water Lily Pond" oil on canvas by Claude Monet. Museum notes state: "In 1893, three years after buying property in the northern French village of Giverny, Claude onet began transforming the marshy ground behind his home into a pond. Over the narrow end of the pond, he built a Japanese-style wooden bridge. The artist added both domestic and imported plantings to hisgarden, which would be a principal subject of his paintings forthe rest of his life."

"The Basket of Apples" oil on canvas by Paul Cezanne. Interestingly, he rarely signed his works, however he probably signed this one before sending it to Paris for his first solo exhibition in November 1895.

I found this painting especially haunting -- "The Girl by the Window" oil on canvas by Edvard Munch. Museum notes state: "This piece belongs to a group of nocturnal scenes that Munch painted in the early 1890s, all characterized by moody blue tonalities. A focus on the psychological realities of human existence found its ultimate express in Munch's iconic work "The Scream"."

The curators of the Art Institute put together a really brilliant marketing piece, if you're short on time when you visit. "WHAT TO SEE IN AN HOUR" includes 12 of their most iconic pieces on permanent view in their collection such as Beorgia O'Keeffe's "Sky Above Clouds IV" and Grant Wood's "American Gothic along with Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks". This is a great introduction for those just getting their feet wet with art appreciation.

So, if you haven't visited the amazing Art Institute of Chicago lately, maybe it's time. Individual membership is only $115 for the year and considering how enriching a visit there can be, it's well worth this nominal membership fee. ###