More Than Van Gogh: A Guide To The Art Institute Of Chicago, USA

Head to the Impressionism section for iconic pieces of art from Monet, Seurat and Caillebotte

Before you even enter The Art Institute of Chicago, you will be greeted by two majestic lion sculptures near its entrance. Built by Edward Kemeys, these bronze lions are great works of art in their own right, paving the way for the other amazing art works you will have a chance to admire after you enter.

The Art Institute is often regarded as the place to see the Impressionists — and rightly so. You could find “Stacks of Wheat” and “Water Lilies” by Claude Monet, “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884” by Georges Seurat, “Paris Street; Rainy Day” by Gustave Caillebotte, “Two Sisters (on the terrace)” by Pierre Auguste Renoir, “The Bedroom” by Van Gogh etc. And these are just the tip of the iceberg. These titles might sound unfamiliar to you, but I assure you that you will definitely recognise these art works when you see them as they have been widely publicised in media or been printed on collectibles.

In fact, there are always many visitors crowding in front of Seurat’s “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884”, scrutinising his brushstrokes as this masterpiece is a classic example of pointillism, where countless little dots of paint are used to create the impression of a full image.

All these paintings are located on the second level, within the “Impressionism” section.

See Grant Wood’s "American Gothic"

Also on the second level is another section dedicated to American Art. Painted in 1930, Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” is perhaps the most famous in this section, with the sombre faces of the farmer and his daughter in front of their Gothic house, which is familiar to most. Note that this painting is currently shifted to the first level, as part of the “America after the Fall: Painting in the 1930s” exhibition from June till September 18, 2016.

Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks”, which according to the artist, was inspired by “a restaurant on New York’s Greenwich Avenue where two streets meet”, is another must-see in the American Art section. Go see for yourself how the artist in his own words, captured “the loneliness of a large city”.

"The Old Guitarist" by Pablo Picasso in the Modern Art section

The Modern Art section on the third level features art works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse and more.

One of the most famous paintings within this section is “The Old Guitarist” by Pablo Picasso, a classic example of his work during his Blue Period (1901–1904), which depicted the miseries of the poor, the ill, and the outcasts of society. Sticking to a monochromatic blue palette, flattened forms, and themes of human misery, “The Old Guitarist” reflected Picasso’s sympathy for the plight of the downtrodden.

Be impressed by Marc Chagall's luminous "America Windows"

When you walk past Marc Chagall’s six-panel work entitled “America Windows” on the first level, you will definitely pause in your tracks as these windows are so eye-catching that they look as if they are glowing in the dim lighting. This set of stained-glass windows is meant to celebrate America as a place of cultural and religious freedom.

Head to Thorne Miniature Rooms, a collection devoted to intricate mini "dollhouses"

One level down in the basement are the Thorne Miniature Rooms, a collection devoted to reproductions of European interiors from the late 13th century to the 1930s and American furnishings from the 17th century to the 1930s in miniature versions. This exhibit is home to the world’s largest collection of miniature rooms in the world, containing 68 individual rooms that capture the most influential architectural designs of the past centuries.

Constructed on a scale of one inch (2.5cm) to one foot (0.3 metres), kids and adults alike will be fascinated by these “dollhouses” painstakingly built by craftsmen.