Help - I need a Map!

Late Romantic or early Symbolist? Impressionists and Naturalists?

What I really needed before I started was a refresher of Art History.

I took this Sunday to visit Musée d'Orsay and begin my introduction to art in France. A train station magnificently transformed to house the French national collection of mid 19th to 20th century art ; by wandering from room to room you can sample some of the greatest impressionist works in a space more intimate than I've heard said of the Louvre.

A testament to Whistler's and all mothers everywhere, I found this picture I took interesting as it included a lady standing observing the painting with a similar profile and clasped hands. Could Whistler's mother be sharing maternal wisdom?

I bought a book "A fuller understanding of the paintings at Orsay" to help me better prepare for a return visit with family and friends. Courbet, Rodin, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Gauguin and more await a return visit. Please join me.