Snapshot of Western art's evolution

Guillermo Solana, artistic director of the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, talks about Ruben's Venus and Cupid, as he guides visitors around the exhibition on June 22. CHINA DAILY

Describing the portrayed character as someone who appears strong, independent and confident, Solana believes the woman in the painting will resonate with local audiences in modern Shanghai.

Another work Solana talked about in his lectures was The Stevedores in Arles, which was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1888. The Dutch artist arrived in Arles in February 1888 to paint the Midi region, and he eschewed pointillist and Impressionist methods in favor of more synthetic forms and louder colors.

The opening of the Thyssen Museum showcase on the second floor means that the Museum of Art Pudong's exhibition spaces are fully occupied for the summer months. The Shape of Time: Art and Ancestors of Oceania from The Metropolitan Museum of Art on the first floor continues to Aug 20, while Liu Heung Shing Lens, Era, People, a solo exhibition by the photographer Liu Heung Shing, will be held till Dec 17.

The Greats of Six Centuries: Masterpieces from the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza is not the first showcase of works by renowned Western artists in the city this year, an indication that the interest in Western artworks among Shanghai audiences is growing. A few months ago, Shanghai Museum logged a record number of visitors with its exhibition, From Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London.