Giovanni Boldini in Impressionist Paris. February 14th – April 25th
The featured exhibit at The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
Giovanni Boldini’s exhibit — explosive and vibrant. The portraits are luminous and alive while the landscapes take on a near photographic yet still impressionistic. 
Details reveal a technique like miniature palette knife danced across the canvas. Digital images or prints barely represent the beauty of Boldini’s work — in person — truly impressive.
During the 1890s and early 1900s, Giovanni Boldini achieved tremendous popularity in Europe and the United States as a painter of striking, stylish portraits. Indeed, he was one of the great portrait painters of his time. Earlier in his career, however, he explored a wide range of other subjects including landscapes, urban views, and scenes of everyday life. Boldini moved to Paris from his native Italy in 1871, and like his French contemporaries, he was fascinated by the life of the city: its bustling streets, its cafés, and concert halls, and the surrounding countryside.
This exhibition demonstrates Boldini’s interest in both traditional art as well as the innovative techniques of the Impressionists and it offers a fascinating opportunity to re-examine the work of a virtuoso painter during an exciting period of experimentation.
The Clark’s connection to Boldini is unique. Sterling Clark and Boldini lived in Paris in the 1910s and Clark purchased most of his works by Boldini during the artist’s lifetime. Today, the Clark houses the largest number of works by Boldini in the United States.
Free November 1 through May 31
Free to members, children 18 and under, and full-time students with I.D. The museum is located on South Street, one-half mile south of the junction of Routes 2 and 7 in the center of Williamstown — 100 miles from Hartford.
Credit: The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute website.
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These are incredible in person. From farther away they depict the realism of a photograph — up close, they are very painterly — with abstract smears and dabs of paint. You can’t possibly get the feeling without seeing them for yourself — so head up to The Clark in their off season and see them for free! (The Clark’s admission is $15/person May–Nov | Free Dec–April — check the website for further details.)