Barnes Takeout: Art Talk on Georges Rouault’s Acrobat with Two Dogs

Discover the inner light of Rouault’s circus performers with Amy Gillette, collections research associate.
When you're back #seeingtheBarnes in person, look for Acrobat with Two Dogs in Room 19 of our galleries.
About Barnes Takeout: Your Daily Serving of Art
In short videos, Barnes curators, scholars, and educators present off-the-cuff musings about some of their favorite works in the collection. Take a break during these trying times, and refocus your mind on something calm and nourishing.
On-site or online, our commitment to art education endures. Help us continue bringing the Barnes collection to communities near and far by supporting our Annual Fund: bit.ly/barnes-...

[@kayleenlewis4229]

Paintings such as this are not the first ones I am drawn to at the Barnes but with each passing "Barnes Take Out" I feel like my next visit will be like I have never been before! The connection to his training in stained glass is just so important in understanding this style. Thanks again! Well done!

[@sallycook6755]

Wow! I had to watch this twice because there was so much wonderful information! I especially liked the reference to Kehinde Wiley and the explanation about how the paintings went together in the room! It is so meaningful to know a bit about the artist and what was inspiring him to paint this.

[@carolwalsh8902]

Thank you for your insight, this was most informative!

[@cindikimmel9875]

Thank you Amy for this well done and informative take out - really love how it ties into the rest of the wall as you described was Barnes intent - even including the chair legs.

[@captainwgg]

When Amy told us that Rouault had been trained as a stained glass designer, the central figure of the Acrobat clicked for me: the Acrobat could be the center of a church window with the light shining through, illuminating the lovely reds and hints of gold. Wonderful.

[@kjburma]

Excellent context, biographical information and quotes. I will listen again as there was much to absorb.

[@pamelaroesch707]

A delight, again, to consider some art on these days of quarantine. I appreciate the explanation of the possible spiritual underlying of this painting, and also the detail that Rouault was a stained glass artist, as that explains much. I may listen to this again, since there seems to be a lot of symbolic layers to this piece. Thanks, again, for the moments of contemplation.

[@christinahentzelman1089]

Very interesting. This is not a painting that I've given a lot of intention so this was quite helpful. I will be looking for this as soon as we all can come back to the museum.

[@garybonas5366]

Thanks, Amy. It’s interesting to consider this ostensibly non-religious pieces as a symbol for things far deeper than its obvious subject matter. I also enjoyed you explanation of the relationships of the pieces in the ensemble. Very nice!

[@barbaraschoetzau8740]

lots of interesting and unexpected info.. From Matisse to Kehinde Wiley. Wow!