Walking into the "Seeing Silence: The Paintings of Helene Schjerfbeck" exhibition at the Met felt like discovering unmapped territory – a rare experience where an artist's work is met without prior knowledge or preconceptions. For most, this would be a chance to see art for the first time, unencumbered by images or opinions. That was the case here.
Schjerfbeck, never previously shown in the US, has a career that spans over four decades. The show features 35 paintings, chronologically arranged to reveal her artistic development. From a 22-year-old self-portrait to an 83-year-old final one, Schjerfbeck's journey is marked by recurring illness, civil war, world wars, and persistent self-doubt.
Born in 1862 in Helsinki, Finland, Schjerfbeck began showing talent at a young age. Admitted to the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Society at 11, she advanced to a private academy by 15. Her breakthrough came when she received a travel grant for her painting "Wounded Warrior in the Snow" at 17.
While studying in Paris, Schjerfbeck was heavily influenced by El Greco and Modigliani's styles. She admired their use of bold colors like white, black, yellow ochre, and cinnabar. Her own palette often featured whites, blacks, and pale pinks – creating an eerie sense of serenity.
Throughout her life, Schjerfbeck struggled with self-doubt. Despite receiving acclaim in Finland, she remained dissatisfied with her work, constantly seeking improvement. Teaching was a difficult endeavor for her; her students were expected to be silent, and any questions from them would have been met with frustration.
Schjerfbeck's experiences took a toll on her – she suffered from neurasthenia, which left her exhausted and demoralized. However, despite the challenges, she persevered, driven by an insatiable passion for painting.
The exhibition reveals Schjerfbeck's inner world through intimate paintings of everyday moments, with subjects lost in thought or engaging in domestic chores. Her technique became increasingly experimental – mixing materials like oil, charcoal, and tempera to achieve unique textures and effects.
In her final years, Schjerfbeck was diagnosed with stomach cancer and suffered from physical decay. Yet, she continued painting until her death at 85, driven by an overwhelming sense of purpose.
The exhibition is a testament to Schjerfbeck's dedication to art. The range of subjects and techniques on display is astonishing – a masterclass in fearless experimentation. Her paintings exude silence that is both tender, delicate, and fierce all at once. Seeing this exhibition was revelatory; having never seen her work before made the experience even more profound.
The show ends with Schjerfbeck's voice being heard – shifting, evolving, and singular. For those familiar with her life story, it serves as a poignant reminder of her unwavering commitment to art.
Schjerfbeck, never previously shown in the US, has a career that spans over four decades. The show features 35 paintings, chronologically arranged to reveal her artistic development. From a 22-year-old self-portrait to an 83-year-old final one, Schjerfbeck's journey is marked by recurring illness, civil war, world wars, and persistent self-doubt.
Born in 1862 in Helsinki, Finland, Schjerfbeck began showing talent at a young age. Admitted to the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Society at 11, she advanced to a private academy by 15. Her breakthrough came when she received a travel grant for her painting "Wounded Warrior in the Snow" at 17.
While studying in Paris, Schjerfbeck was heavily influenced by El Greco and Modigliani's styles. She admired their use of bold colors like white, black, yellow ochre, and cinnabar. Her own palette often featured whites, blacks, and pale pinks – creating an eerie sense of serenity.
Throughout her life, Schjerfbeck struggled with self-doubt. Despite receiving acclaim in Finland, she remained dissatisfied with her work, constantly seeking improvement. Teaching was a difficult endeavor for her; her students were expected to be silent, and any questions from them would have been met with frustration.
Schjerfbeck's experiences took a toll on her – she suffered from neurasthenia, which left her exhausted and demoralized. However, despite the challenges, she persevered, driven by an insatiable passion for painting.
The exhibition reveals Schjerfbeck's inner world through intimate paintings of everyday moments, with subjects lost in thought or engaging in domestic chores. Her technique became increasingly experimental – mixing materials like oil, charcoal, and tempera to achieve unique textures and effects.
In her final years, Schjerfbeck was diagnosed with stomach cancer and suffered from physical decay. Yet, she continued painting until her death at 85, driven by an overwhelming sense of purpose.
The exhibition is a testament to Schjerfbeck's dedication to art. The range of subjects and techniques on display is astonishing – a masterclass in fearless experimentation. Her paintings exude silence that is both tender, delicate, and fierce all at once. Seeing this exhibition was revelatory; having never seen her work before made the experience even more profound.
The show ends with Schjerfbeck's voice being heard – shifting, evolving, and singular. For those familiar with her life story, it serves as a poignant reminder of her unwavering commitment to art.
and I'm HOOKED! 
Helene Schjerfbeck's paintings are like nothing I've ever seen before - so moody and introspective, yet totally captivating 
. The way she experimented with different materials and techniques is pure genius 
. And can we talk about her use of color? Those bold whites and blacks are giving me LIFE 
. What's even more impressive is how her life experiences influenced her art - it's like you can feel the weight of her struggles in every brushstroke 
. I'm definitely going to be looking into more of her work now, thanks for introducing me to this amazing artist! 
Her bold use of color palettes, often characterized by a hauntingly serene quality, serves as a poignant reflection of her struggles and ultimate perseverance in the face of adversity. The exhibition is a testament to Schjerfbeck's unwavering passion for art, and I'm grateful to have witnessed this masterclass in fearless experimentation firsthand 
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️ The way she uses colors, the techniques she experiments with... it's like you're right there in her studio with her, feelin' every beat of her heart 
. And I love how the show is arranged chronologically, takin' you on this journey through her life, from when she was just a young lass to her final days... it's really somethin'. 
I'm so glad they finally brought her work to the US, it's like a whole new chapter in American art history. 
and I'm still reeling from the experience. It's like you're walking into someone's inner world, where emotions run deep and creativity knows no bounds. Her paintings are so hauntingly beautiful, it's like she's whispering secrets in your ear 
#SchjerfbeckExhibit #ArtLoversUnite #FearlessExperimentation #TheMet
! The way Schjerfbeck's paintings just transport you to another world is insane... like, I was expecting to see some kinda masterclass on technique or whatever, but nope! It's all about the emotions and the silence 
. I loved how they showed her journey through time, from that 22-year-old self-portrait to the final one at 83 - it's crazy to think she went thru so much struggle but still kept creating 
Think about it, the show features her entire career, but only now are we getting a chance to see it. What if this is just a setup for a bigger agenda? Maybe they want us to focus on art and forget about, say, the AI revolution or the coming climate catastrophe? 
It's all about control, my friends...
It's like they're giving us a little secret gift – "Hey, look at this hidden gem!" And Schjerfbeck is definitely not the typical "tortured artist" type, bless her heart. I love how she struggled with self-doubt and still managed to churn out some amazing work. Kind of like me when I'm trying to adult 
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. It's like she's speaking directly to us, sharing these intimate moments from her own life in a way that's both deeply personal and universally relatable.
. Trust me, it's worth it!
. As someone who's always worried about my own kids' mental health and well-being, I couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy for her struggles with self-doubt and exhaustion 
. The exhibition is really making me think about how we can support our kids (and ourselves!) when we're feeling lost or uncertain about our passions 
. And I love how her paintings are like a time capsule, capturing moments of quiet introspection and contemplation 
. It's like she's whispering secrets to us, reminding us that even in the darkest times, there's always beauty to be found 
... I'm glad we got to see this exhibition, it's definitely a must-see for anyone who loves art 
. I mean, she's like, super underrated and all that jazz 
. The fact that her work has never been shown in the US before is wild 
. But let's be real, some of these art critics were being kinda too nice about how she experimented with different materials and techniques 
. Like, I get it, it's innovative, but come on, the woman had to have been struggling with some serious self-doubt at times 
. And can we talk about how she just kept going despite all the health issues? That's more than dedication, that's straight-up perseverance 
. The way she evolved over the decades is pretty incredible - from her early self-portraits to her later experimental pieces, each one tells a story about her inner world 
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The fact that she continued painting even in her final years is a testament to her passion and dedication to art 
. I mean, can you believe she's been alive for over 80 years and we just found out about her? It's like we've been missing out on so much! 
. 10/10 would recommend checking it out if you haven't already