One of the first pieces I was drawn to was actually a rarity for me. It was a photography piece by Paul D'Amato called Girl in the Rain. Something about this piece I found striking. It was part of the collection called Barrio, on the Hispanic community in Chicago. There's something complex and biblical in the piece. The subject is just a girl cooling down on a hot summer day, but there's an indescribable quality that feels somewhat supernatural and biblical, the figure's form reminding me of Crucifixion as she lies is baptismal waters. A moden holiness captured in a moment.
Still life with a Pie, Sweetmeats, and Wine Glasses was another image I was fascinated by. I like still life images with a great deal of detail and the variety of chaotic little elements in the piece. This painting was by Pieter Claesz using oil paint on canvas and it has a great deal of realism, but with that archaic charm that's a hallmark of the 1600s. The smooth brushstrokes and high contrast. The piece has a bit of mystery, there's no clear story or motivation behind the piece, and it has a great deal of details that seem out of place, from the long silver knife to the lemon slices. The piece makes your eye dart around and forces you to look closer to see all the elements.
Another piece I was captured by was a painting framed along other classical religious pieces. But this artwork stood out to me. The piece called Christ Receiving the Children was made in 1655 by Sebastian Bourdon. Compared to other works of this era this one is very unique. The shadows are less harsh and more colorized, there's a geometric consistency through the piece. The angles are sharp, and the figures are more blocks of colors than the smooth details of the era. This piece stands out because of it's simplified style. It was a distinct difference compared to the overly detailed paintings of the 1600s. It reminds me of the impressionist movement in some ways as there is a limited use of the intense black shadows of the era.