The Invasion Part I

A busy day.

Ran first thing much to the dog's displeasure, speedy breakfast and shower in order to get to the Folkwang Museum on time.

The Folkwang Museum started out in 1902 in Hagen and relocated to Essen in 1921. It was robbed by the Nazis during the war and flattened by the Allies but was rebuilt in the 60's and then had a more sensitive remodelling by David Chipperfield just a few years ago. The museum these days is filled with natural light, the paintings all displayed in the frames they were wearing when purchased and spaced out beautifully in huge airy rooms, it makes for a very restful wander. The emphasis is on German and French painting since the nineteenth century and there's everything from Cézanne, Gaugain and van Gogh to Rothko and Pollock, a collection of about 900 paintings and 280 sculptures.

We were lucky to have had a tour organised for us with an English speaking guide, and boy does she know her art history, I never expected to get such detail and insight into individual paintings and artists - it was a very educational morning.

This evening I've had to wait up wayyyyyyy past my bedtime on a school night in order to collect the parentals from Düsseldorf airport - worth it for the blip opp I think though!