The Musée d’Orsay in Paris announces its upcoming exhibition, “Paris 1874: The Invention of Impressionism,” running from March 26 to July 14, 2024, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition. This event, in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art in Washington, will showcase 130 works that challenge preconceived notions and provide a fresh perspective on Impressionism’s origins.
The exhibition will delve into the historical context surrounding the emergence of Impressionism, aiming to dispel myths and misconceptions about the movement’s inception. It will explore the circumstances and motivations of the artists involved, shedding light on their collective desire to pursue their artistic careers freely, outside traditional academic structures.
The Musée d’Orsay exhibition will feature a selection of works from the first Impressionist exhibition, juxtaposed with pieces displayed at the 1874 Salon, providing deeper insights into what truly defines an Impressionist work of art. By contextualizing these works and drawing on new research, the exhibition seeks to highlight the diversity and contradictions inherent in the contemporary art of 1874, inviting visitors to reconsider their preconceived notions about this period in art history.
Additionally, the exhibition will showcase masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay’s collection, as well as exceptional loans such as “Impression, Sunrise” by Claude Monet, which inspired the term “Impressionist” after being ridiculed by art critic Louis Leroy. The exhibition also offers a unique 45-minute virtual experience, “An Evening with the Impressionists: Paris 1874,” transporting participants back in time to the studios of Nadar on the night of the exhibition’s opening. Equipped with VR headsets, visitors will be welcomed by the painters themselves, including Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Cezanne, and Pissarro, along with their art dealer, Paul Durand-Ruel, as they discuss their work. This immersive journey is the result of two years of meticulous research and analysis, culminating in the faithful recreation of the interior of Nadar’s studios.
In conclusion, the Musée d’Orsay’s upcoming exhibition promises to provide a fresh and comprehensive understanding of the birth of Impressionism, shedding new light on the movement’s origins and inviting visitors to reconsider their perceptions of this pivotal moment in art history.
