Off in a corner on the second floor of the Speed Museum, past the Monet – If you turn the corner and run into Benjamin Franklin as a youth you’ve gone too far – is a secret alcove housing the Speed’s quietly excellent exhibition, “Thoroughly Modern: Women in 20th Century Art Design.” I know everyone’s visiting the Speed to see the Women Impressionists right now. But don’t miss this hidden gem.
My favorite painting from the exhibit is pictured above. Jane Peterson’s “The Red Parasol”. And the amateurish photo I took hardly does it justice. Much like Monet, you have to see these paintings in person to really appreciate them. Speaking of Monet, the menagerie of wild colors in Peterson’s flower beds and the umbrella glow faintly echoed in the young woman’s face are reminiscent of the French master of Impressionism.
Peterson led an interesting life. Her patron was none other than Louis Comfort Tiffany. She spent time travelling extensively by herself in the 1910’s-1920’s, visiting Egypt, Algiers, Venice, and Paris, searching for inspiration for her artwork. Then she married an older husband who made her stop arting so she could manage his household.
I could see Peterson’s parasol painting living side-by-side with The Church at Varengeville. And not paling that much in comparison. I don’t know the plans of the owners of “The Red Parasol”, but I do hope this painting finds its way into the Speed’s permanent collection someday.
Blanche Lazzel’s painting, “Landscape, Woodstock” also caught my eye. Lazzel spent time traveling to France. After looking at this painting, I wonder if she was inspired by Seurat and his pointillism style.
Those are just two of the 20+ women whose artwork is on display in the secret alcove on the second floor of the old building at the Speed. On display until July 1.