A Slice of History
150 years ago, in the spring, 31 artists (including Monet, Manet, Morisot, and Pissarro) came together to create what would become one of the most famous artistic movements in history. Decades later, the Musée d'Orsay decided to reproduce this exceptional event, placing it in the context of the time to transport.Stay with us to experience the Paris that sparked this artistic revolution.
As you step into the exhibition halls, the message is crystal clear. Impressionism challenges traditional art in a time when rebellion fills the streets of the capital city, against the backdrop of the Paris Commune. From one room to the next, the museum juxtaposes the inaugural Impressionist exhibition (before they even had that name) with the prestigious Salon, where artists favored by the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture and the Fine Arts would exhibit each year.
Join us on this journey to uncover the magic of Impressionism and the spirit of rebellion it embodies.
Berthe Morisot, The Cradle, in 1872 © Musée d'Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt
A breathtaking reenactment
After this first small clarification of the historical context, the exhibition invites us to start over, right at the beginning, at 9th, at 35 Boulevard des Capucins, which hosted this very first gathering. We move from room to room, discovering true masterpieces, unveiled for the first time by the public (then not very convinced) 150 years ago. The deep red of the walls, and the layout of the paintings are as faithful as possible to this exhibition of which only few traces remain.
And we, on our side, are thrilled to be able, in a way, to attend such an event. The artworks are remarkably delicate and accurate. Even the most well-known ones, which one could get tired of, take on a whole new flavor here, in the midst of this historical setting that revisits the invention of Impressionism. Special mention to the (.Enter a very small room displaying the painting "Impression, Sunrise", which legend has it gave its name to the movement, and offers us the chance to discover a series of quite moving pastel works by Boudin.
Eva Gonzalès, A Loge at the Italians, circa 1874 © Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt
The painting of modernity
The exhibition highlights the striking contrast between impressionist paintings, dreamlike and realistic at the same time, and their predecessors (very academic, often offering too classical subjects), to shed light on a rupture that, while criticized at the time, can only be applauded today. The subjects depicted touch us with their modernity and popularity (in the noblest sense of the term), and we let ourselves be carried away by our sensations throughout the visit.
To go even further and fully enjoy this journey through time, we treat ourselves to a small immersive visit to the heart of the opening night of the 1874 exhibition, thanks to the experience at virtual reality An evening with the impressionists. Here you can experience this first presentation.And not just that, but also discovering the places that have left a mark on the impressionist movement, following the paths of some of the greatest artists of the time. An absolutely incredible moment, not to be missed!
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Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism
Musée d'Orsay
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