Frankfurt, Germany, 1905. Georg Swarzenski is appointed director of the Städel at the age of 30. He wants to open the richly traditional museum for exciting new art. In 1911, he purchases the “Portrait of Dr Gachet” in Paris – an act that makes a strong statement in the unyielding German Empire. Swarzenski very skilfully develops the Städel into a modern mus ... Show More
Sep 2024
Ludwig II: The Only Real King of the 19th Century
Outside of Germany, King Ludwig II is relatively unknown. And, yet, he is one of history’s most tragic and romantic kings. He was a gay icon and a ruler who eschewed public appearances for turn inward into a fantasy realm of his own making. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac ... Show More
47m 39s
Apr 2024
Why Adriano Pedrosa Sees His Venice Biennale As 'Paying a Debt'
Next week, the art world will descend into the Venetian Lagoon for the Venice Biennale, the most highly anticipated art event of this year. The Brazilian curator Adriano Pedrosa is at the helm of the prestigious group exhibition, which is now in its 60th edition, and his show inc ... Show More
45m 24s
Jul 2024
Hahn v Duveen | The Case of the American Leonardo (encore)
An artist’s skillful application of paint will make an artwork good, but a good story makes that artwork great. In 2010, a painting went on auction at Sotheby’s and sold for $1.5 million and I would argue that price is not because of the image, or the artist, but rather the story ... Show More
14m 36s
Dec 2023
Dorothea Lange portraits, William Blake
Episode No. 632 of The Modern Art Notes Podcast features curators Philip Brookman and Julian Brooks. Brookman is the curator of "Dorothea Lange: Seeing People," at the National Gallery of Art, Washington. The exhibition presents Lange's decades-long portraiture practice in over 1 ... Show More
1h 7m
Aug 2024
The Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa (Replay)
August 21, 1911. On a Monday morning, a department store employee on a Paris street sees a man hurrying by. He carries a white-wrapped package and, as the employee watches, he throws something small and shiny over his shoulder...it’s a doorknob. Then the man disappears into the s ... Show More
35m 30s