Impressions; museums

On my desk there is a painting of Monet’s “Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies” 1 that I purchased when I was on holiday last year. I wanted to bring something back that I could put in my living space, something that would both be a memory of the trip but also a work of art in itself to be enjoyed. Every time I go to my desk, the painting is there: a reminder of one of my favourite artists.I brought back a fridge magnet from the same trip, too, which brings art to the kitchen. And when I go to museums I like to collect pin badges. I keep them with all the other mementos I collect: gallery tickets, maps, and other artefacts from a trip. I don’t look at my badges often, but I love having a little collection of things that grows only when I happen to be in a museum gift shop and see a badge I like.This week, I have been thinking about how these artefacts are only the beginning of what I “bring back” from museums. After I visit a museum, I bring home memories of art, maps of the space I…