Philadelphia boasts several world-class art institutions, including The Barnes Foundation, established in 1922 by Albert C. Barnes and today home to one of the best collections of Post-Impressionist and early modern art. As you wander the rooms, names like Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso, Rousseau, Demuth and Pippin stand out. The Barnes Foundation is not without its controversy, documented in 2009’s Art of the Steal. Among other issues, against the wishes of Barnes and after numerous court challenges, the collection was moved from its original home in Merion to its current location on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia in 2012. Melee aside, the collection is impressive, and the new location, near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum, is worth a visit. I spent a Saturday afternoon with friends visiting The Barnes Foundation for the first time. Our visit coincided with the special exhibition, Picasso: The Great War, Experimentation and Change, on display through May 9. The exhibit shows how Pablo Picasso’s style shifted around and during World War I, from 1912 to 1924, and boasts around 50 of the artist’s works. It was an incredibly interesting exhibit. After the exhibit, we wandered the rest of the collection. Here are a few staggering numbers to consider before a visit — there’s A LOT to see:

• More than 3,000 masterpieces in total
• 181 Renoirs
• 69 Cézannes
• 59 Matisses
• 7 Van Goghs
• Plus textiles, metalwork, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and furniture

To fully immerse oneself in the experience, I’d recommend following the included audio tour or browsing the catalogues of work available in each room. It’s a bit overwhelming to tackle on your own, especially if you are not particularly well-versed in the art on display. The Barnes Foundation is closed Tuesdays but open Wednesday–Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and every First Friday and select Friday evenings from 6–9 p.m. — Kim Krol, editor in chief