LONDON — The introduction of the catalog accompanying Goya to Impressionism. Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Assortment congratulates the Courtauld for “bringing this remarkable exhibition to life.” Which is odd, because the present seems to be a slice of the admittedly fabulous Oskar Reinhart Assortment in Winterthur, Switzerland, dumped right here wholesale through the latter’s closure for renovation in 2025. The difficulty with a present conceived actually as a holding pen for a set — an identification the Courtauld appears to be leaning into, as it’ll additionally quickly be internet hosting items from the Barber Institute on the College of Birmingham as that gallery additionally undergoes renovations — is a scarcity of curatorial narrative, and even objective.
The accompanying captions to the work on this two-show room fall far in need of the contextual and stylistic evaluation the Courtauld Institute — which teaches artwork historical past — needs to be recognized for. As an alternative, we’ve superficially observational statements of the bleedingly apparent, and a few wildly doubtful assertions.
For instance, a caption accompanying “Lily and Greenhouse Plants” (1864), an impressionistic nonetheless life, tells us Renoir “depicts an array of potted plants clustered in a greenhouse,” which one may observe through the use of one’s eyes. For Cézanne’s watercolor sketch “Bathers” (1900–6), we’re advised “the nude bodies are formed from areas of bare paper, their shapes indicated by blue and light brown outlines.” My coronary heart bleeds for the dear wall area given to the reviewer who forgot the project and simply described the plot. For Goya’s fabulous “Still Life with Three Salmon Steaks” (1808–12), a plate of juicily glistening salmon slices towards stark background painted through the Peninsular Warfare (1807–14), it’s prompt “the raw realism of these salmon steaks, isolated from any context, the flesh rendered in blood red, suggests the brutality of war.” I’m sorry, what? The captions do diligently state the yr that Reinhardt acquired them, as if this holds some significance.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, “Lily and Greenhouse Plants” (1864), oil on canvas, with some reflective glare
So who wrote these items? Who even curated this factor? No human curators are listed, however one thing known as “Griffin Catalyst” is “Title Partner” (what does that imply?); the exhibition is “supported by Kenneth C. Griffin.” Some could keep in mind Griffin because the billionaire CEO of other funding fund Citadel LLC, and the purchaser of a stegosaurus fossil from Sotheby’s in 2024 for $45m. Griffin Catalyst is outwardly his philanthropic enterprise, devoted to “[partnering] with innovative organizations to pursue game-changing projects that drive impact at scale.” One thing comparable occurred on the Tate when the YAGEO Basis commandeered its partitions to show a totally sanitized (and atrociously curated) present of its personal assortment. Plainly the philanthropic funds that allow wonderful reveals like this to occur are on the expense of artwork historic depth and integrity, maybe even curators’ jobs.
This instance of company curating (or lack of) portends a worrying gulf between funding and the survival of artwork historic self-discipline in exhibition-making. The result’s exhibitions that really feel nothing greater than perfunctory. With that in thoughts, attempt to take pleasure in and be grateful to Mr. Griffin et al for making them accessible to you — it’s a uncommon pleasure to see a Goya nonetheless life in spite of everything, and a few very good late Van Gogh. There may be even one in every of Gericault’s portraits of people considered affected by psychological sickness: “A Man Suffering from Delusions of Military Grandeur” (1899–22) is a curious inclusion for a set that appears to deal with ticking off main names that each wealthy collector ought to personal. In response to the catalog, that is the third in a collection of main Griffin Catalyst exhibitions on the Courtauld, the intention of which is to “inspire and challenge visitors of all backgrounds.” Not with that insipid, flat, and perfunctory curating, it received’t.
Édouard Manet, “Au Cafe” (1878), oil on canvas
Vincent van Gogh, “The Ward in the Hospital at Arles” (1889), oil on canvas
Set up view of Goya to Impressionism. Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Assortment on the Cortauld Gallery
Goya to Impressionism. Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Assortment continues on the Courtauld Gallery (Somerset Home, London, England) by means of Could 26. The exhibition was organized by the museum.
