The Art Institute of Chicago's Art and Appetite exhibit is reaching its final weeks and closing up the visual kitchen on January 27th. This is a sumptuous showing of American food-related art from colonial times to the late 20th century, with occasional social or satiric commentary -- but for the most part a fine spread that confirms the fact that Americans like their food and drink, and plenty of it. Some of my favorite works are featured, like Willard Metcalf's
The Ten Cent Breakfast, John Sloan's
Reganeschi's Saturday Night and Richard Estes'
Food City. And the pictured
Vegetable Dinner by Peter Blume, which I like even more because Blume was apparently a fellow vegetarian. All in all an enjoyable show that includes some beautiful servingware as well, and a book of postcards available for sale in the gift shop with vintage recipes on the back. (The corn "oysters" from
Jennie June's American Cookery Book of 1870 fry up nicely and are especially tasty with a splash of green Tabasco.) My only negative commentary on American appetite in general was in the Members' Lounge at the Art Institute, when the poor guy who works there was trying to bring out a fresh pot of hot chocolate and was descended upon by some rather aggressive persons. Hot chocolate is free for members, but I've seen stock footage of Depression-era folks waiting in breadlines with more courtesy and patience than these supposed patrons of the arts. Clearly paying for a membership to the museum entitles a body to shove ahead and cut in line and crab at student workers, all in pursuit of a the privilege of a cup of cocoa worth about $1.50.
Pictured: Vegetable Dinner (Peter Blume, 1927) Smithsonian American Art Museum
