The National Gallery

Like most of the other must-see attractions that I have visited since my arrival in London, the National Gallery was very overwhelming. I must admit that I really wasn’t sure what to expect to see there. I had no idea that I would be seeing some of the most famous paintings that I have studied throughout my schooling. I wandered from room to room in awe trying to keep a certain amount of structure to my visit, but unable to keep from getting lost in rooms full of artwork that I never imagined I would have the to opportunity to see.

While I spotted a painting in almost every room that caught my attention for one reason or another, I was most attracted to room 45 which held many works of Vincent Van Gogh. Seeing these paintings pleased me more than any others because they are paintings that are more accessible than the ones that are typically only studied about in textbooks. “Sunflowers” is one of Van Gogh’s paintings that can be found on a multitude of everyday items, from mugs to bags to computer backgrounds. Having seen this painting in its original form, however, has caused me to realize that I could not fully appreciate it by merely looking at photographs or replications of it.

While standing before this immaculate painting, I noticed a key element that makes it such a great work of art – texture. Photographs of this painting cannot portray the three dimensional nature that was created by the brush strokes. The paint appeared to be so thick that it followed the brush off of the canvas. Using this technique, Van Gogh was able to paint flowers that appear to have actual petals protruding from the painting.

The National Gallery was the first art museum that I had ever visited, and it helped me develop a much greater appreciation for viewing art in its natural form.