On Saturday, Sept. 27, I joined Professor Suzanne Chamlin-Richer and a group of fellow Fairfield students on a free arts excursion to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Sponsored by the Fairfield University Arts Institute, the trip covered our train fares, lunch and even provided sketchbooks and pencils to allow us to engage directly with the artwork we viewed.
Since it was my very first time visiting The Met, I was instantly in awe. The scale of the museum itself felt endless, with room after room filled with paintings, drawings and sculptures by some of the world’s most renowned artists. We explored the 19th-century European Painting Galleries, where we saw early Italian and Northern art, Dutch paintings, Spanish works and much more. I was amazed to see the work of some of my favorite artists and to stand before paintings I had only ever studied in art classes.
“A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” (1884–1886) by Georges Seurat
Professor Chamlin spoke with us about the paintings and genres we were encountering, explaining key techniques, historical context and styles to look for in the gallery. Her insights helped the group see details and connections that may have otherwise been overlooked.
The most special part of the day for me was spending time in the French galleries. The Met’s 19th-century French galleries are “second only to the museums of Paris,” and walking through rooms filled with works by Gustave Courbet, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Camille Pissarro and Vincent van Gogh felt surreal. With my sketchbook in hand, I settled onto a bench and began drawing, letting my pencil trace the shapes and details of the paintings. Sketching gave me a greater appreciation for the composition and colors in front of me.
One of my favorite moments was standing in front of “Regatta at Sainte-Adresse” (1867) by Claude Monet, one of my top three artists. The scene depicts turquoise blue water, sailboats, a blue sky with stratus clouds and people watching the regatta. I instantly felt lost in the painting. Professor Chamlin pointed out how interesting it is that paintings can make you feel immersed in another world, and her perspective made the experience feel even more universal.
Being able to stand in front of these masterpieces, sketch and reflect and share the experience with my fellow Stags was unforgettable. The trip reminded me of the importance of taking the time to encounter art in person and admire the beauty and meaning behind each work.