Five Works to See In…The National Gallery in Prague

‍1. Egon Schiele The Seated Woman with Bent Knees, 1917

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This one for me is personal. While it is an iconic work by Schiele, it is familiar to me because my sister had a poster of this image on her bedroom wall when we were growing up! I am thrilled to see it here! The way the figure sits is both vulnerable and strong. I think such duality is important to message to young girls. Schiele had a way of capturing the complexity of being human, and this work reminds me how powerfully art can hold both beauty and discomfort at once.

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2. Pablo Picasso The Abduction of Sabines, 1962

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The subject and the composition in this painting are urgent and chaotic—Picasso channels myth, violence, and emotion into something visually primal. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t just reflect history—it asks us to feel it, to confront it, and to question what we carry forward.

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3. Joseph Beuys Car, 1969

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I love the work of Joseph Beuys and most of what is know has a figurative or realistic expression. What draws me to Car is how the title suggests the reference and thereby offers a way to see the work that I would not have otherwise seen. Works have power and sometimes they offer completely new contexts and opportunities.

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4. Rembrandt van Rijn Scholar in his Study, 1634

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Rembrandt painted himself as his primary subject. And as he aged, his self-portraits detailed the process and were unflinching in their imagery and detail. In this self-portrait, there’s a quiet majesty. The subject, raptured mid thought, looks back at us, the viewer, to consider what he sees.  Rembrandt is a master of light and here it is used both literally and metaphorically. Considering this panting I am reminded how time with ourselves can be its own kind of grandeur.

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5. Agnolo Bronzino Portrait of Eleanor of Toledo, 1572

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I love Bronzino! And it is not very often that I get to see one of his paintings in person. What captivates me about this portrait is the power in stillness. Eleanor’s gaze is composed, almost unreadable, yet Bronzino paints her with such precision and care that you feel her presence fully. I truly enjoy thinking about what the subjects of these exquisite portraits might have been like to talk with over tea or stroll with in a garden. What did Eleanor of Toledo love?