If Paris were a person, “art” would be its middle name. As the birthplace of some of the most creative souls—and hands—to ever hold a paintbrush or mold a piece of clay, France has arguably the richest catalogue of artistic history in the world, and houses some of the most celebrated opuses known to humankind.
From Degas and his impressionist renderings of 19th century ballerinas, to Monet’s waterlilies and Rodin’s immortal Thinker, there’s so much to explore in Day 2 of the official TCA Holiday Gift Guide. With a range of price points, arranged in Splurge and Steal categories, you’ll find the perfect gifts for those who seek to study and appreciate the fruits of these artists’ labor—or for anyone who relishes artistic expression.
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Holiday Gift Guide: Jour 2 | For the Artist
LE SPLURGE ($50 and up)
French Paintings in the Met; By Katharine Baetjer; $88.32
“Cataloguing The Met's remarkable collection of 18th-century French paintings in the context of the powerful institutions that governed the visual arts of the time—the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, the Académie de France à Rome, and the Paris Salon—this book encompasses 126 stunning examples of work by 50 leading artists of the period, including François Boucher, Jean Siméon Chardin, Jacques Louis David, François Gérard, Antoine Watteau, and many more.”
Adam Sculpture, Rodin; $495
”The Museum's Adam was cast in bronze about 1910 from Auguste Rodin's (French, 1840–1917) original 1880 model. Based on this work, our reduced-scale reproduction was created with a combination of three-dimensional imaging and traditional sculpture techniques.”
The Louvre: All the Paintings; $75
”The Louvre is the world's most visited art museum, with 8.5 million visitors annually, and houses the most celebrated and important paintings of all time. For the first time ever, Louvre: All the Paintings collects all 3,022 paintings currently on display in the permanent collection in one beautifully curated volume. Organized and divided into the four main painting collections of the museum—the Italian, Northern, Spanish, and the French schools—the paintings are presented chronologically by artist's years of birth. Four hundred of the most iconic and significant paintings are illuminated with discussions by art historians Anja Grebe and Vincent Pomarède.”
Seated Torso of a Woman; $375
”An original sculpture by Paul Wayland Bartlett (American, 1865–1925) served as the model for this reproduction. Born in the U.S. and educated in Paris, Bartlett worked as an assistant to Auguste Rodin before establishing his own studio. He created major works of public art, with the centerpiece of his career being his Equestrian Statue of Lafayette, which was presented to France as a reciprocal gift for Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty.”
Degas: A Passion for Perfection, By Jane Munro; $50
”Edgar Degas’s (1834–1917) relentless experimentation with technical procedures is a hallmark of his lifelong desire to learn. The numerous iterations of compositions and poses suggest an intense self-discipline, as well as a refusal to accept any creative solution as definitive or finite. Published in the centenary year of the artist’s death, this book presents an exceptional array of Degas’s work, including paintings, drawings, pastels, etchings, monotypes, counter proofs, and sculpture, with approximately sixty key works from private and public collections in Europe and the United States.”
The Monet Cookbook: Recipes from Giverny; By Florence Gentner
“This beautiful book presents 60 of Claude Monet's (French, 1840–1926) original recipes alongside glorious reproductions of his paintings, scenes from his life in Giverny, and stunning photographs. It is well known that Monet was a gourmand as well as an artistic genius. His culinary journals are filled with detailed recipes and notes about what he ate and with whom he shared his meals.”
Le Steal ($30 and under)
Monet Waterlilies Sketchbook; $15
”Unleash your inner artist with this sketchbook featuring Claude Monet's (French, 1840–1926) beloved Water Lilies. The painting, now in The Met collection, one of four water lily pictures that Monet finished, signed, and sold in 1919. Today, his water lily paintings are among the most recognized and adored works of art in the world.”
Floral Impressions Face Masks; $25 (Set of 2)
”This is not an FDA-approved product. This product makes no claims of antimicrobial protection, antiviral protection, particulate filtration, or infection prevention or reduction. This product is not intended for use in a medical setting.”
Degas Dancer Coasters; $15
”Artist Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917) found a ready source of inspiration in the ballet dancers of the Paris Opéra, a subject he returned to throughout his career. Our cork-backed coasters showcase details from four of his works in The Met collection: The Dance Class, 1874; Dancers Practicing at the Barre, 1877; Dancer, ca. 1880; and Dancers, Pink and Green, ca. 1890.”
The Kiss, Rodin Mini Sculpture; $28
”Like his famous The Thinker, The Kiss is taken from The Gates of Hell, Auguste Rodin's (French, 1840–1917) magnum opus. It was originally based on the figures Paolo and Francesca from Dante's Inferno, who were banished to Hell for eternity because they kissed after Francesca had married Paolo's brother. Sensual but also radiating a deep and sincere love, The Kiss, recalled by this resin mini sculpture, has remained one of Rodin’s most popular works to this day.”
Degas: Painter of Ballerinas; $19.95
”Through Edgar Degas's (French, 1834–1917) beloved paintings, drawings, and sculptures, Susan Goldman Rubin conveys the wonder and excitement of the ballet world. Degas is one of the most celebrated painters of the impressionist movement, and his ballerina paintings are among the most favorite of his fans. In his artwork, Degas captures every moment, from the relentless hours of practice to the glamour of appearing on stage, revealing a dancer's journey from novice to prima ballerina. Observing young students, Degas drew their poses again and again, determined to achieve perfection. The book includes a brief biography of his life, endnotes, bibliography, where to see his paintings, and an index.”
French Impressionist Gardens Notecards; $25
”The emergence of the Impressionist movement in France during the late 19th century coincided with a significant transformation to the physical landscape of Paris and its surroundings, as a revolution in the style and nature of public parks took place and a renewed interest in horticulture and gardening emerged. Collected here are 36 notecards showcasing 12 works by artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Auguste Renoir, and more, all from The Met collection.”
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