The Benefits of No Photography at the Prado

I spent the day at the Prado today, and saw around thirty paintings in the art historian's "canon" of great works.

Photography is not allowed.

It was a relief!

Most of my visits to art museums I juggle taking photographs of the things I'm seeing to use when I teach.  Sometimes getting those hard to find details, or more faithful color, or the painting in its frame, or with people around to show its size.

I spent my time standing in front of each work asking myself what I saw in terms of color, texture, composition, shading, realism, and anatomy.

Then I looked at the subject of the painting, the symbols used, the interrelationships of the symbols and what it might mean.  

I also tried to remember what I knew about each painting's history, the geography, it's context, and patronage.  

Sometimes I shared what I knew with my partner or just asked her what she saw and thought.

If I didn't know enough or had questions, I looked it up on my phone.

All without wasting time taking the perfect shot.  I had to actually look at each work in real time and decide with each painting what I wanted out of the experience.  It also gave me the extra bandwidth to compare the paintings near it to it.

The lack of photography also lessened the interference from other viewers and my interference with them.

I had a good time.  I think I'll remember what I saw and, if I don't, I can always look for a picture on the web.