Paris Day 6

So today we visited the beautiful Musee d'Orsay. For those of you that have been to Paris you understand what I mean when I call a museum beautiful. It was originally built as a train station, but was quickly was obsolete because it could not handle the bigger electric trains that came out not long after the station was opened. It sat empty for many years and was eventually made into a museum.

One of my very favorite pieces is here, a sculpture by Lois Ernest Barries - La Nature se Devoilant al la Science, the first picture below. I will admit this is not my picture, they frown on picture taking here at the d'Orsay, I got this off the internet. She is just simply beautiful to me.

They have the Impressionists here, Monet, Manet, Degas etc. Not my favorite style of painting by some of it is breathtaking.

We did look at some pieces and wondered again, what makes it art? Who decides that something is museum worthy? If something outlasts everything else of its time, is it then museum worthy.

They also have a wonderful collection of Art Nouveau furniture and decorative items. Looking at these things made me wonder what is the difference between Art Nouveau and Art Deco? I always, being rather stupid about these things, thought they were the same. But no. I now know that Art Nouveau uses curves, natural elements, leaves, flowers in its design. Art Deco? More geometric. Good to know, I guess.

There are many Art Nouveau buildings here in Paris, you just have to look for them. We passed one of the most famous on our walk the day before (photo two) without realizing it until I looked up Art Nouveau when we got home.

I forget how much there is to see here. That was about all we did today besides the ever present walking.