Getting a Date with the Man from Provence

There's something about those French painters.

Last year, an exhibition of more than 200 paintings by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec drew record crowds to the National Gallery. This year, an exhibition of Paul Cezanne's work is creating just as much buzz.

"Cezanne in Provence," organized in honor of the 100th anniversary of the artist's death, follows the course of the painter's career. The bulk of the exhibition is made up of the wild landscapes Cezanne is best known for, but there's also a few early portraits and watercolor studies in the collection of 117 works. The brightly painted canvasses are definitely worth the trip -- if you can get in the door.

I went to see the exhibit on a recent weekday morning, right at 10 a.m. when the museum opens. Twenty-five other people had the same idea, but it was far from packed. Museum staff tell me that the exhibit is least crowded on Mondays and Tuesdays, but since weekday museum visits aren't easy for most workin' folks, here are some tips for getting in on a weekend:

-- Come late. The crowds on the mall are always thick, but many museum-goers tire out by the afternoon.
-- If you opt against getting an audio guide, steer clear of the audio guide paintings. Crowds of headphoned visitors flock to these so it's often difficult to get a clear look.
-- Wait it out. The buzz over this exhibition is sure to fade out sometime between now and its May 7 closing date. Perhaps by the time the Dada show opens in the East Building on Feb. 19, the West building's popularity will be a distant memory.

Got any tips for would-be museum goers? Let us hear 'em below. Been to the exhibit? Write a review for other City Guide users.

--Julia