Paris 1874 Inventing impressionism

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition in Paris, the Musée d'Orsay presents a selection of 130 works, offering a fresh look at this pivotal moment considered to be the starting point of the avant-garde.

The exhibition "Paris 1874. The Impressionist Moment" explores the events of spring 1874 in Paris and their significance today. It looks back at the circumstances that led these 31 artists, only seven of whom are now world-famous, to exhibit their work together. In a post-war context, marked by the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and a violent civil war, the artists rethought their art and explored new avenues. A group of "rebels" painted scenes of modern life and landscapes in the open air, seeking above all to make an impression.

The exhibition compares a selection of works presented at the Impressionist exhibition of 1874 with those exhibited simultaneously at the official Salon. This unprecedented comparison restores the visual impact of the Impressionists' works, while offering surprising parallels between the two events. The Musée d'Orsay highlights the contradictions and diversity of artistic creation in the spring of 1874, while underlining the radical modernity of the young artists of the time.

The exhibition runs from March 26 to July 14, 2024. To get there, take the RER C to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame in the direction of Saint-Quentin en Yvelines - Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, and get off at Musée d'Orsay.