We Haven't Seen This In More Than 100 Years ...
Two Monet works, not seen publicly for more than a century, head to auction next week. We’ve got the details (though not the $10–14 million you may need), plus a roundup of interesting stories that caught our eye this week. Grab a coffee and dive in ... 👇🏽
“Both paintings embody all of Claude Monet’s modernity, representing the world not as it is seen, but as it is felt.”
The French artist painted Les Îles de Port-Villez in 1883 from his famous studio boat shortly after settling in the countryside village of Giverny. Held in a private collection for the last 115 years, the work had previously appeared only in a black-and-white photograph.
Painted eighteen years later, the Vétheuil, effet du matin captures a tranquil riverside landscape and, according to Sotheby's, “shows some of the most important developments of the Impressionist movement.”
Together, Sotheby's expects the two paintings to bring in $10–14 million, making them the most valuable Monet works sold at auction since 2001. The most expensive Monet ever sold? Meules, which sold for $111 million in 2019.
🗣️ Your Conversation Starters:
🧠 Mastering the Mind: While fans flood Augusta for the Masters, one golfer focuses on more than the leaderboard. After traumatic trials and a brain surgery that led to PTSD, Gary Woodland opens up about how he plans to manage his mental health while competing this weekend.
📵 Phone-Free: The trend of phone-free dining continues to grow, with restaurants in at least 11 states imposing some form of phone restrictions. The effect? According to one food expert, customers who put their phones away note “a richer experience.”
🏢 AI Data Centers: Artificial intelligence data centers continue to pop up across rural farmland in the U.S. As environmental and economic concerns over the data centers grow, the state of Maine aims to ban their construction through legislation.
🤖 AI Shake-Up: Speaking of AI ... a new analysis suggests the technology could affect more than half of U.S. jobs. Many companies expect to adapt by reshaping roles to work alongside it, but researchers estimate AI could replace 10% to 15% of current jobs within the next five years.
🫀 "Ghost Murmur”: According to an exclusive report from the New York Post, the CIA used a new, secret technology capable of detecting a human heartbeat to help locate a second American airman shot down in Iran last weekend.
👗 In Demand: According to recent data, fewer than 17,000 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers remain in the United States today — marking a 30% decline over the past decade. The shortage comes as consumers show renewed interest in alterations and a more customized fit.
💻 Beware: Federal agencies are warning Americans after Iranian hackers break into industrial control systems in an attempt to disrupt infrastructure. Meanwhile, agencies also report that Russians are hacking Wi-Fi routers in the U.S., Canada and parts of Europe.
☄️ Asteroid Haul: As Artemis II continues breaking records and capturing historic views, the Rubin Observatory announced its “largest asteroid haul yet,” with more than 11,000 newly discovered asteroids.
🚊 Bullet Train: As airline fees rise, high-speed rail may not offer relief anytime soon. Major projects continue to face delays, rising costs, and funding challenges — leaving the U.S. behind at least 20 other nations.
🐟 A First in 50 Years: Health officials say people can now eat striped bass from the Lower Hudson River up to four times per month thanks to lower chemical levels.
🥵 Super El Niño: Scientists are predicting El Niño conditions later this year, which typically bring higher global temperatures, drought in some regions, and flooding in others. While the strength remains uncertain, one expert suggests it could rank among the most powerful in 140 years.
🎙️ This Week From Jenna:
The President says he wants to go after those who leaked information about a rescue operation in Iran - Can he?
Jenna takes you to a portion of a White House press conference that drew attention after the president blamed press reporting and a leaker for revealing a second missing airman during a rescue operation in Iran, saying the media company should give up the source “or go to jail.”
WATCH ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE. You can also listen on podcasting platforms everywhere (Apple, Spotify).
🎙️ SCOOP (approx. 33 minutes) Rescued In Iran: What We Learned From The White House (And What’s Still Unanswered). Watch or Listen. (SCOOP Insiders can attend this live broadcast once a week and get their news questions answered; they also receive the special video report EXCLUSIVELY delivered to their inbox along with a "cheat sheet" for the week ahead — learn more HERE).
🙌🏽 What We Found SmartHER This Week:
I popped into Walmart over Easter weekend and found some great pieces for me and the kids. I love how many mix-and-match options there are in the Free Assembly line — you can build a really cute outfit for under $50! 🙌🏽
I loved this maxi skirt with a smocked waist (I also found it pretty room and sized down):
I also love this button-front denim skirt — it will transition perfectly into summer:
“It is not possible to be used to working here because you are always amazed.”
Director of the Vatican Mosaic Studio, Paolo di Buono, on working in the 16th-century studio.
From a distance, most artworks in St. Peter’s Basilica appear to be paintings. A closer look, however, reveals small pieces of glass forming longer-lasting mosaics. Artisans in the Vatican Mosaic Studio use the same techniques as the ancient masters, preserving original works and creating new ones — including mosaics of the Vatican that the pope gives to visiting dignitaries.
And that's The Weekend Digest!
❤️,
Jenna and the SHN Team
Daily news, interviews, our latest podcasts and more at www.SmartHERNews.com.
