Bill Murray talks about the painting that stopped him from taking his life after being asked if there were a moment how art has made a difference in his life. Watch til the end to see the painting.

I got my masters degree from the school of the art Institute of Chicago and I spent many hours in the museum and this painting always made me stop and stare. The colors are so subdued except the sun, which is phosphorescent it looks like it has been lit from behind with colors. You never see in paintings from that era. Genius..

Incredible. I would love to see it in person.

I don’t like how they were laughing but I guess cause he’s a comedian it’s funny but it was a beautiful story and that is insane that art can change the trajectory of someone’s entire life in one moment

I think with someone like Murray its hard to tell where the joke ends and the seriousness begins. What a great story though.

That painting, Song of the Lark, is still on view at the Art Institute (as of late June 2025). I always visit it and think of Bill Murray's account of how it essentially saved him. A lovely work of art.

A profound realization is that he wasn't walking in the wrong direction, he was walking the path God wanted him to walk.

Hit that follow if you’re cool ✌🏼

I get the same vibe from Brancusi’s Bird in Space. Art is Life!

Art is absolutely life, amen to that

I’m a career commercial artist. I’ve come to believe that art is the mythical Garden of Eden, where our conscious mind, with all of its inhibitions is shoved aside so we can converse on a common level, as humanity, with the rest of the Universe.

Fun fact: this painting inspired a novel by Willa Cather with the same title in 1915 and included the painting on the book cover

Chicago Art Institute is a life-changer. Was 16 when I “discovered” love of art walking those galleries. It’s that good. Never been the same since.

Is that the museum by the water? The Ferris Bueller museum as I like to call it

That’s the museum and, yes, the famous Georges Seurat painting from Ferris Bueller is there. The depth and variety of work at CAI — dozens of Picasso paintings, rooms full of Rodin sculptures, centuries of medieval armor, etc — is humanity at its best.

Amazing post 👌

appreciate ya, David

@ronportnoir The sun rises whether we’re there to see it or not.

@ronportnoir true

We all know which painting it really was...

that's lovely. I have a print of The Weeders in my office, I have similar feelings about it

What makes me really sad is the people laughing :( as someone who can relate I'm not laughing :/.

More

you got it

The Song of the Lark by Jules Breton. I love this painting. It's so peaceful. It's a painting of a woman who is stopped working in her tracks by the sound of a lark (note the mildly awed expression). I love 19th century art sm.

I 100% thought it was a bit the entire time until the end. Beautiful.

Merci 🙏 à lui par conséquent, d’avoir sauvé la vie de Bill ;) Culture is a gift !

Been there. Art has saved my life.

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of my favorite places on this planet-I have spent many hours there in my life @artinstitutechi Art of all kinds is gorgeous & important for our well being and piece of mind-I’m 💯 positive I wouldn’t be alive without music-Music is my soul

🤔 Woody Allen “Why is life worth living?”, MANHATTAN (1979) dir. Woody Allen.

Dude was never funny.

Here Jules Breton's paintings, a french artist. Beautiful.

wow.

This is the painting: 'The Song of the Lark' by Jules Breton (1884).

God is in the AI can match a human soul.

@GaryCardone

Just never know what people are going through. Living is always the best way. Take a walk and enjoy the sunshine.

It's going to take more than that painting, to save my life

That painting represents my first sense of true agency and freedom! I attended college in the suburbs of Chicago in the nineties and during my first month at school, I traveled into Chicago by train and walked alone among the streets and headed for the Art Institute. I grew up sheltered (my mother was appalled when she learned of this field trip) but I loved the idea of being alone to really enjoy the art for myself. That painting deeply resonated and I hung a postcard of it in my dorm. Every time I visit Chicago, I visit that painting. I'm probably visiting myself.

Keep on rolling! @octopuscaveman

🫶

Son of God

I freakin' love this.