It is the centerpiece of a new exhibit chronicling Alexander von Humboldt’s trip to the United States in the early 1800s.

Photo by payal.jhaveri.Visiting art museums, once a mostly passive and individual experience, has become much more interactive lately, thanks to the advent of social media. At places like the Phillips Collection and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Twitter, Facebook, iTunes and YouTube are making it possible for museum-goers to engage in conversation with one another and learn more about artists and their work. Check below for the more interesting feeds to follow and informative…

John La Farge’s “Water Lily in Sunlight” courtesy the Smithsonian Museum of American Art Written by DCist contributor Monica Shores We can admit it. Sometimes, appreciating art can be like eating vegetables; you know it’s good for you, but there’s no assurance the experience will be enjoyable. The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Graphic Master I exhibit is something of a vegetable side dish. It’s devoid of sensational subject matter and primary colors, the aspects…