From the entrance into a high-ceilinged, echoey marble foyer, it's clear that grandeur will be a theme throughout the West Wing of the National Gallery of Art. Vast rooms follow the precedents set by the earliest European museums' neoclassical architecture; in keeping with that theme, the galleries are filled with European artworks from the Dutch masters to the French Impressionists. We noticed that most visitors, from the college students to the older tourists, were lured to look at the paintings and sculptures by the more well-known names (Rodin, Degas, Monet). The European pieces show a desire for the nation to collect, possess, and display famous works. This leads us to the question: what do we consider a "masterpiece", and who gets to create one? Historically, white men with a focus on either artistic trends from Antiquity or on Christian imagery have generally been touted as "masters" of art. Though each new generation begins to question these expectations even more, the legacy of "the masters" remains. We also noticed that children who began to make noise were mostly shushed by their parents or guardians -- all in the ritual of respect and awe in the face of famous artworks. (Alice Baughman)

Throughout my quest in creating my own collection of dogs I noticed a shocking similarity between the company in which the dogs were pictured. The so-called "man's best friend" was almost exclusively seen with a woman! As depicted to the right you can see this bond between dog and woman dates back to ancient times as Diana's loyal companion stays glued to her side.

But why is this pattern so present in classic European art? One might think it has to do with a woman's need for protection, or that both could be referred to as 'property'. In my opinion, I think its because woman are just more fun! (Jill Preston)