21 Apr 2023
In 2019, my wife and I booked a last-minute private tour of the Orsay on a whim. Our primary motivation admittedly was skipping the line, but with Boris at the helm the tour turned out to be our most interesting museum visit ever. So prior to returning in April 2023 with our 11-year-old daughter we eagerly booked Boris for the Louvre and the Pompidou.
My usual pedestrian approach to art museums has been prioritizing seeing all of the works--ploughing through sequentially and perhaps dwelling on a few intriguing pieces. Boris eschews completionism for quality. He focuses on the 10-15 most important works in the museum and provides rich historical, cultural, and political context, which will greatly improve your appreciation and understanding. A painting of a black box on a white canvas is something I would normally walk right by, but with Boris unlocking the context I can now appreciate it as a major turning point for art, religion, and Russian politics. It is a rare opportunity to have a scholar explain art to you.
This tour isn't designed for kids, but Boris made a Herculean effort to keep our attention-challenged daughter engaged while also providing a level of sophistication that appealed to us parents. Looking forward to booking Boris for our next visit!