Description
How did a Paris train station become the mecca of Impressionism? This question summarizes the incredible transformation undergone in the early 1980s by an abandoned train station in the heart of the City of Light. First inaugurated for the 1900 world trade fair, the building is typical of this transitional period: a carved limestone envelope around a structure of riveted iron beams. Turning it into a museum was no easy task, but the stunning result is that it now hosts the world’s largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, as well as sculptures by the period’s most appraised artists such as Rodin, Carpeaux, Camille Claudel, or Maillol.
The period covered by the d’Orsay collections is key to the canon of French and global art history. During our conversation, we will journey from 1848 and the rise of modernist emperor Napoleon III to 1918 and the end of WWI. This period witnessed the birth of impressionism and its evolution towards modern art. Manet, Monet, Renoir, and later Van Gogh and Gauguin kept re-inventing the codes of Art. All of them lived in Paris, knew, and often influenced each other. From this creative melting pot, a revolution in Art was born.
Before you go there, there are a certain number of things you need to know to find your way. What new ideas and practices in painting led to impressionism, and how redefining colors and shapes gave artists unprecedented freedom. How the massive audience they reached in exhibitions gave them a political dimension and a perfume of scandal, and why their eager quest for new models took them so far away from their native land. All these questions are key to understanding this thriving artistic period and to make the most of your exploration of the d’Orsay collections.
Eager to explore the museum's collection in person? Click here for additional information about Context tours of Paris.
The period covered by the d’Orsay collections is key to the canon of French and global art history. During our conversation, we will journey from 1848 and the rise of modernist emperor Napoleon III to 1918 and the end of WWI. This period witnessed the birth of impressionism and its evolution towards modern art. Manet, Monet, Renoir, and later Van Gogh and Gauguin kept re-inventing the codes of Art. All of them lived in Paris, knew, and often influenced each other. From this creative melting pot, a revolution in Art was born.
Before you go there, there are a certain number of things you need to know to find your way. What new ideas and practices in painting led to impressionism, and how redefining colors and shapes gave artists unprecedented freedom. How the massive audience they reached in exhibitions gave them a political dimension and a perfume of scandal, and why their eager quest for new models took them so far away from their native land. All these questions are key to understanding this thriving artistic period and to make the most of your exploration of the d’Orsay collections.
Eager to explore the museum's collection in person? Click here for additional information about Context tours of Paris.
About Your Expert
After graduating in law and business, Laurent spent the first twenty years of his career managing international sales for an advertising company. But his passion for art and history took over and he eventually passed a master's in Art History and the Art Market, as well as obtaining his official license as a “guide-conférencier”. A Parisian for over 25 years now, he has an in-depth knowledge of the city and its treasures. His objective? Making art and history come to life! He loves strolling around the city and its museums tracking the history and meaning of monuments and artworks alike.
Audience
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
Duration
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.