This year marks 150 years since the revolutionary first Impressionist exhibition, which opened in Paris on April 15, 1874. The exhibition, titled “Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism” at the National Gallery of Art, commemorates this watershed moment in art history.
Organized in partnership with the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie, the exhibit offers a rare opportunity to explore the origins of Impressionism, a movement that forever altered the trajectory of modern art.
The exhibition brings together a significant number of works from the original 1874 show, many of which are borrowed from the Musée d’Orsay. It contextualizes the birth of this movement by juxtaposing these radical pieces with works displayed at the Salon, the official and more traditional art exhibition of the time.
This “visual shock” helps today’s viewers appreciate the rebelliousness of artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, and Paul Cézanne, who sought freedom from the rigid expectations of the Salon.
The Art Revolution of April 15, 1874
In the spring of 1874, a group of 31 artists, fed up with the confines of the official art world, decided to take matters into their own hands. While only a handful of these artists are widely known today, their collective action fundamentally changed the course of art history.
This daring group of painters, who later became known as the Impressionists, shared a common desire to break away from the academic traditions that dominated the Parisian art scene. Their self-organized exhibition at the studio of photographer Nadar gave birth to what would become one of the most influential movements in modern art.
These artists were responding to a world in flux. In the wake of the Franco-German War of 1870 and a violent civil war, Paris was undergoing rapid social and political changes. Artists, like others in society, were rethinking their roles and exploring new directions. The result was a bold new style that embraced modern life, capturing fleeting moments in landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits with light brushstrokes, pale hues, and atmospheric effects.
One observer of the first exhibition commented, “What they seem above all to be aiming at is an impression,” and thus, the movement was named.
Rebels Against the Salon
The exhibition “Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment” not only brings viewers into the heart of this transformative moment but also places the works of these avant-garde painters in direct comparison with the more conservative pieces exhibited at the Salon in the same year. This allows for a deeper understanding of the true radicalism of the Impressionists. At the time, their focus on contemporary life and their unconventional techniques were a stark contrast to the historical and religious subjects favored by the Salon.
The curatorial team, led by Sylvie Patry from Mennour in Paris and Anne Robbins from the Musée d’Orsay, along with Mary Morton and Kimberly Jones from the National Gallery of Art, has carefully chosen works that exemplify the differences and surprising similarities between the two groups of artists. Visitors will gain a richer appreciation of the visual shock these new works would have presented to the public and the artistic establishment.
Legacy of the Impressionist Moment
As visitors walk through the galleries, they will be transported back to a time of rebellion, innovation, and immense cultural change. The exhibit doesn’t just celebrate the artists who have become household names, like Monet and Degas, but also shines a light on the lesser-known figures who participated in this first show, artists whose contributions were equally essential in launching the avant-gardes.
Ultimately, “Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism” offers a nuanced perspective on the birth of a movement that was both revolutionary and deeply reflective of its time. It invites us to reconsider the legacy of these artists, not as isolated geniuses, but as part of a collective effort to respond to the rapidly changing world around them.
The exhibition is on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., from September 8, 2024, to January 20, 2025, offering a profound look at the moment when Impressionism was born and modern art began.