"Whistler's Mother," and friends at the Norton Simon on Friday, April Third

My friend Nancy and I enjoyed seeing the three visiting paintings from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris that were temporarily traded to the Norton Simon.

"The Card Players," 1892-96 by Paul Cezanne, French, 1839-1906, oil on canvas.  The description states that as if engaged in a silent ritual, Cezanne's peasants play out their game, each intent upon his hand.  The scene is arranged like one of the artist's still lifes with not interaction between players, a "collective game of solitaire."

"Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (Portrait of the Artist's Mother)," 1871 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler, American 1834-1903, oil on canvas.  "One does like to make one's mummy just as nice as possible," said the artist in an interview,

"Emile Zola," 1868 by Edouard Manet, French, 1812-1883, oil on canvas.  The great novelist was only 28 when the picture was painted.  Zola was a defender of Manet's painting style saying "Manet's place is marked for him in the Louvre."