Gustave Caillebotte, Pablo Picasso, Suzanne Valadon, Paul Sérusier, and even Maximilien Luce—these are just a few of the great names whose works you'll be able to admire throughout the winter at this Aix institution. Caumont – Centre d’Art invites you to a unique retrospective featuring this exceptional collection that brings together about sixty paintings created by 38 artists who have become significant figures in both French and global painting.
A visionary collection
In life, it’s often important to take risks. Oscar Ghez understood this well. In the 1950s, this art-loving industrialist decided to start a collection. Through Parisian sales, gallery visits, and his travels around the world, he acquired works by artists who were often underrated at the time. Going against the current of trends,In his time, he was interested in artists who were not well regarded, preferring to listen to his artistic sensitivity rather than the financial speculations of the era, thus distancing himself from the landscape and moving more towards portraiture and the figure.
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It certainly did him well, since some of the artists he was interested in at the time later became very big names in the history of art. Little by little, he purchased hundreds of pieces, for which he created the Musée du Petit Palais in Geneva. Within this institution, he organized a large number of exhibitions, until his death in 1998. And even though the museum has now closed its doors to the public, the masterpieces it holds are regularly lent out. Starting from November 7th, you'll have the chance to admire some of them at the Caumont – Centre d'Art.
Rooms filled with treasures
To present this exceptional collection, Caumont – Centre d’Art offers you a chronological and thematic journey, mainly focusing on the favorite subjects of the collector.
nneur, to reflect his tastes and visionary spirit. To start the visit, impressionism takes center stage. But here, it’s not about landscapes seen and re-seen a thousand times; it’s the human figure that shines. On the walls, you'll find Caillebotte, Manet, and Renoir. Next up is neo-impressionism, featuring some of the masterworks from Ghez's collection, like La Seine à l’aube by Charles Angrand or Etude pour Excursion by Henri-Edmond Cross.
Maximilien Luce, Bord de mer en Normandie, 1893 © Association des amis du Petit Palais, Genève / Erich Lessing
The exhibition then focuses on two of the favorite artists of art lovers: Louis Valtat and Félix Vallotton. These two highly represented names showcase the collector's versatility and open-mindedness. The avant-garde style characteristic of these two painters hints at the next section, which focuses on Fauvism. Charles Camoin, Henri Manguin, Raoul Dufy, and Auguste Chabaud are once again chosen by Oscar Ghez to highlight their unique approach to color, selecting less acclaimed artists.
A constantly renewed modernity
In his desire to reach as wide an audience as possible and not limit his vision of art, the industrialist also extensively explores decorative art, a t.cross the Nabis, Paul Sérusier and also Édouard Vuillard. A true testament to his modernity, Ghez gives a major place in his collection to women artists, especially those from the School of Paris. A genuine pioneer in rehabilitating female painters, he presents us with masterpieces by Tamara de Lempicka, Suzanne Valadon and Jeanne Hebuterne.
Tamara de Lempicka, Perspective or The Two Friends, 1923 © Association des amis du Petit Palais, Geneva / Studio Monique Bernaz, Geneva
Finally, the highlight of the show, the last room will focus on cubism, particularly artists like Jean Metzinger. Initially, the collector refuses to buy Picasso, as it's far too expensive, but he eventually acquires a few pieces, like L’Aubade, which beautifully closes the exhibition. To sum it up, for over 4 months, Caumont – Centre d’Art immerses you in the collection of a man who has tirelessly defied trends to reveal the paths of major artists. A remarkable moment in art.
Perspectives of a Collector
Caumont – Centre d’Art
3, rue Joseph Cabassol – Aix-en-Provence
From November 7, 202March 5 to 22, 2026
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