Paris 1874 : Inventer L'impressionnisme

Exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay, 26 March - 14 July 2024 ;
then at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, 8 September 2024 - 20 January 2025

On 15 April 1874, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Pissarro, Sisley and Cézanne decided to break away from the rules by organising their own exhibition, outside the official channels: Impressionism was born. In the context of the crisis that followed the Franco-Prussian War, the artists rethought their art and explored new directions, creating scenes of modern life and light-coloured landscapes sketched in the open air.

This exhibition catalogue seeks to understand what led 31 artists - of whom only seven are now universally renowned - to come together to exhibit their work. A selection of works that featured in the Impressionist exhibition of 1874 is put into perspective with paintings and sculptures shown at the same time at the official Salon: an unprecedented confrontation that restores the visual impact of the works exhibited by the Impressionists, but also nuances it.

The book shows the contradictions and infinite richness of contemporary creation in the spring of 1874, considered to be the kick-off for the avant-garde.