It is a 200-year story told through art and, to a great degree, told thanks to the ongoing generosity of Henry Bloch and the Bloch family.
Over the years, Mr. Bloch and his wife, Marion, built one of the great collections of art in the nation with the help of wise counsel from the experts at the Nelson-Atkins.
.@joelkclive previews the opening #TheBlochGalleries @nelson_atkins @KCMO pic.twitter.com/2kjqr0KGJw
— TJH (@THellhake) February 24, 2017
Now, the 29 masterpieces from the Bloch Collection have been incorporated into the museum’s permanent collection.
The works cover the period of 1750 - 1950, but there is also 21st century technology available to help tell the story.
A listening app, touch-screen interactive areas, “smart” benches for iPad use and gallery lighting that can change the very appearance of the paintings are just a few of the innovations.
Of course, the real stars of the exhibit are the gifts from the Bloch family: Manet, Monet, van Gogh, Matisse and many more.
The collection nearly doubles the museum’s holdings of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art.
The Blochs started their collection more than 40 years ago with the purchase of Renoir’s “Woman Leaning on her Elbows.”
They didn’t acquire the pieces as an investment or to make money. According to a letter from Mr. Bloch to the museum director, they just loved living among the pictures.
Starting March 11, we all get that chance to “live among the pictures.”
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Joel Nichols can be reached at joel.nichols@kclive.tv.
