If money were no object, which artist’s works would you hang in your home?
Legendary impressionist Mary Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania in 1844. She attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts against her wealthy parents’ wishes. Mary was frustrated by the school’s rules, which forbade female students from painting live models. Eventually she moved to France where she studied the masters and made extra money by copying and selling famous paintings at the Louvre. Edgar Degas, one of the early founders of Impressionism, became Mary’s mentor, and brought her into the fold of the Impressionist movement. Mary is best known for her oil paintings, which explore the intimate moments of women–especially the bond between mother and child. They have sold for as much as $2.9 million.
Twentieth century Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, is best known for her colorful and sometimes disturbing self-portraits which have been described as “surrealist” and as “folk art.” “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best,” said Frida, according to biographer Andrea Kettenmann. Her paintings capture emotional moments of her life, from her tumultuous marriage to artist Diego Rivera to the (physical and emotional) pain she endured after a bus accident left her barren. They have sold for as much as $5.6 million.
Georgia O’Keeffe was born on a dairy farm in Wisconsin in 1887. She attended a top art school in Chicago and won several student prizes, but eventually stopped painting entirely, and became an elementary school teacher in Texas. There, she began painting again, and those works–abstract flowers, rocks, shells, animal bones, and landscapes–became the basis for her first gallery show in New York. The gallery owner, famed photographer Arthur Steiglitz, fell in love with Georgia and left his wife to marry her. By the 1920s, Georgia was considered one the America’s most important artists. She continued painting right up until her death at age 98. Today her paintings sell for upwards of $6 million dollars each.
Helen Levitt (1913-2009) was a famously reclusive photographer who live and worked in Brooklyn, NY. She was known for her New York City “street photography,” especially her photos of local “children living their zesty, improvised lives,” as noted in her New York Times obituary. Some of her most famous photos were taken in the 1930s, because, Helen said: “That was before television and air-conditioning. People would be outside, and if you just waited long enough they forgot about you.” She took photos for 70 years before her death in 2009 at age 95.
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Images via Girls Explore, The Art Institute of Chicago, Frida Kahlo Foundation, Biography.com, The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Laurence Miller Gallery, and BlogArts
0 Responses to “{Poll} Which artist’s works would you hang in your home?”
MOYRAB says:
I think it would have to be Van Gogh …Sunflowers – beautiful!
Greetings from N. Ireland!
Ariana says:
Well, I actually have a couple of self portrait paintings of Frida Kahlo. Unfortunately there not the originals 🙁 I even had my father add those gallery lights lol!!! But I defenetly like Mary Cassatt.
Jill Guerin says:
I would love to hang The Child’s Bath by Mary Cassat. It reminds me of when my kids were young and of how quickly that time passes by.
rjcard123 says:
I think I like Frida Kahlo…I am going to look her up right now and see other paintings she did. Who better to paint you….but you.
Sheila Kerschner says:
A very fine captured moment between Mother and child
katheen Carrillo says:
All of these artist’s are astounding women and astounding artist. They were at the front lines for women’s liberation. Each one had their struggle with getting shown amongst an art world privileged for men. When Gallery owner and photographer Stigletz saw Georgia Okeefe’s work he said “finally a woman who paints like a man” That was considered a compliment. Each one of them had a very personal and distinct style that put them ahead of the crowd. I would be proud to hang any one of these paintings in my home, but I have a personal love affair with Freida. Whenever I play dressup I become Freida. I am a painter myself and identify strongly with her passion and struggle. Her work speaks volumes in it’s story telling. It is honest and raw. She is an icon in Mexico
Fran says:
I picked Georgia because her work is so unusual however in actuality I would no thang any of them since every wall is alrready taken up with items I really love from my “gone with the wind” collection.
A friend sas the only space I have left is the ceiling!
Sandy says:
Each artist has their own special draw, but my personal taste and style leans more with Georgia O’Keeffe. All are amazingly talented.
Robin says:
I would hang Georgia O’Keeffe above my fireplace and anywhere else in my home.
Tricia Douglas says:
Mary Cassatt was one of the first American women to make a name for herself in art. Family, home, children, and love were strong themes then as they still are now. I love her work.
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[…] {Poll} Which artist’s works would you hang in your home? […]
Gwen Surell says:
I would actually hang Andrew Wyeth in my home if I could afford him! Right now, I try to support my mom, who does oil paintings. She’s 78 and does great work!
Barbara Daniel says:
It is a toss-up between Georgia O Keeffe and Freda Kahlo.
I love them both.
I am a Printmaker. I do etching and linocuts Because I don’t have a press in my home, I attend Saddleback College where they have a wonderful printmaking program. I would like to get my prints out there. Any ideas from anyone would be helpful.
Dorothy says:
O’keeffe for beauty and Levitt fr innosence
Ginny Edgar says:
Our home is an 1896 Victorian in a small Iowa town so Mary Cassatt fits well but we also like prints by Iowan Grant Wood, one of the great regionalists.
sherie says:
i would hang any and all in my home!! i’m an artist so there for, i love art!! georgia o’keeffe would be my favorite though!!
Barb says:
I’d be hanging Max Ernst if money were no object. I enjoy surrealism, but his use of color makes his paintings outstanding.
Marcia Robinson says:
Actually, I’d kill for one of the “old masters.” However, if I had to choose an O’Keefe, Cassat, Kahloe, or Levitt, I’d choose O’Keefe. Eons ago, I bought O’Keefe cards and the painting is of one of the cards. Love it. O’Keefe’s painting(s) can hang above my sofa or anywhere else in my home.
Catherine Davis says:
Georgia O’Keefe would be my favorite out of these artists but an all time fav is definately Van Gogh. I have prints of his in my home and just love his work. ie: “Starry Night”
sharon says:
When my kids’ schools decided to do away with their ARTS programs because of budget cuts, I decided to volunteer so that they could be exposed to artists from all around the world. Mary Cassatt and Frida Kahlo are by far two of the female artists that I most admire not only for their talent but for the strong women they are. They explored emotion in their paintings and relationships that are so important such as: a mother and child. I would hang any piece of Frida Kahlo first and then of course if I could pick a second one it would a painting by Mary Cassatt. Imagine the conversations you could have with your daughters and sons about these incredible women!!
Kristi says:
Why choose just one? I like the Cassatt, O’Keeffe, and Kahlo. (Not all works by all of them, and those posted aren’t my favorites,)
Le says:
If Money was no Object
I would buy John Wayne’s things for my hubby
Tricia N. says:
Really a difficult choice–I like them all, but since I am limited to one, it would have to be The Black Iris by Georgia O’Keefe. I would probably have picked anything by Georgia O’Keefe as she is one of my favorite artists. I love her simple, yet complex, style and the colors she uses.
Joanne Vicente says:
I’ve always loved Georgia O’Keefe’s work! The ways in which she used color and flow, and barely disguised sexuality in her paintings is compelling, to say the least.
Karen says:
There is no way I could choose between those four incredible women. If money is no object, one of each please.
Stargazer says:
Frida Kahlo would be the one because it expresses emotional stages that a female might go through life. There’s a lot of emotion on her pictures. Unfortunately not many females are aware of her works.
Mary says:
I like seascapes best, but of the artists listed, I would pick Helen Levitt.
I’m not a fan of New York, but I would enjoy having works on my wall of people, especially children, playing outside where they aren’t allowed to anymore.
There is a park across from my house – no children, except for adult supervised teams – I find this very sad. Myself and friends, my children and their friends, played all over – crossed busy streets – rode bikes – had fun. Oh well.
Karen Cunningham says:
I love the human interest in the photography as well as the sophistication and mood of black and white photographs.
Patricia Assanowicz says:
If money were no object, I would invest in all 4, they all have interesting life stories and to hang one of their works on my wall and know the story behind each artist would be an honor.
wendy weimann says:
all of the above .they are all phenominal women artists and I’m an eclectic collector
Sharon says:
I actually like all of these works. I’m not an expert in art, but I can relate to all of these, which is usually how we judge art, not whether everybody else likes what you like. My classic favorits are Monet and Van Gogh.
Nancy V says:
I CAN’T CHOOSE THEM ALL…IT WAS REALLY A TOSS BETWEEN FRIDA KAHLO AND GEORGIA O’KEEFE…ALTHOUGH I LOVE THEM ALL…EACH INDIVIDUALLY…
Darla says:
Actually I’d hang any of them but if I have to pick one it is the O’Keeffe.
Robin Mooney says:
Frida Kahlo was a very close second to the Georgia O’Keeffe for me. I love both of them and if money were no object I would have them both! Greedy, I know!
Marilyn Montague says:
Definitely Georgia O’Keefe. She is a brilliant artist!
shari says:
Extremely hard to choose! My husband would definitely have pegged me for Frida Kahlo, as I’ve read, seen, themed so much Frida-ness. Yet, my home decor would more suit the black & white photography. And I adore taking photos myself….. hhmmmmmm choices, choices!
carol s says:
Have loved O’Keefe since I was a child-of course I would hang her work in my home. I even drove to her museum in Sante Fe New Mexico when I was visiting near there. I also enjoy the other artists work as well though and would hang them in my home also.
Anne says:
If I could pick 2, I’d add Kahlo to my O’Keefe choice. Wonderful works!
Dolores says:
Georgia Okeefe’s orchid painting most definetly could hang in my home. It is just beautiful.
I love it…
Teri Davis Newman says:
Actually, if money were no object, I’d go with Monet or Renoir. I like impressionism.