See paintings in person

I used to think that people who said you had to see paintings in person to really get them were just snobs who wanted to flaunt their glamorous travel stories.

Maybe some are, but after seeing the Waterhouse exhibit in Montreal, I get it. Twelve hours of frequently harrowing driving for six hours of viewing time, and worth every second.

You’ve seen images of Miriamne, I assume. But you don’t realize that this painting is almost nine feet tall. You don’t see the nuance of barely-visible greens and pinks in her dress that set it apart from the stairs, or the blush of flesh at her thigh. You don’t see the brilliance of the gold decorations on the stone lions, or her own headdress. And most of all, you don’t see her eyes; her look that is full of defiance, and pain. Stand before this painting and it will knock you to your fucking knees.

Go to museums. Seek out the great works. See them in person. Please. It’s important.