Through the impastos of Van Gogh, the stippling of Georges Seurat, and the synthetism of Paul Gauguin, the post-impressionist movement left a deep mark on the painting world long after the artists had abandoned their palettes. To really appreciate the textures and techniques pioneered during this period, paintings need to be seen in real life – and Louvre Abu Dhabi is offering art lovers the chance to do just that.
Its latest exhibition, Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances, housed within the temporary gallery space, will run until February 9, 2025. Organised by Louvre Abu Dhabi in partnership with Musée d’Orsay and France Muséums, the showcase features nearly 100 artworks from artists including Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat, Henri-Edmond Cross, Émile Bernard, Paul Gauguin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who defined the Post-Impressionist movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“While each artist presents a distinct approach to the movement, the exhibition thoughtfully celebrates both their individual artistic expressions and the underlying connections that unify this transformative era in art history,” notes Dr. Guilhem André, Scientific, Curatorial and Collection Management Director.
Divided into nine sections, the exhibition allows guests to explore the distinct journeys of each post-impressionist artist and their influences, from Van Gogh’s time in the city of Arles, to Paul Gaugin and Émile Bernard drawing inspiration from Japanese prints. Highlights on display include Bedroom in Arles (1889) and The Siesta (between 1889 and 1890) by Vincent Van Gogh, The Hair (circa 1892) by Henri-Edmond Cross, Portrait of Madam Cézanne (1885 and 1890) by Paul Cézanne, and The Talisman (1888) by Paul Sérusier.
At the centre of the exhibition space, several artists’ palettes are on display, giving visitors a deeper insight into the creative process. The exhibition also has four interactive multimedia devices, which present an opportunity to engage with interactive stories about the artists and experiment with the creation of your own artwork.
The works on display have been curated by Jean-Rémi Touzet, Curator of Painting at Musée d’Orsay, and Jérôme Farigoule, Chief Curator at Louvre Abu Dhabi, with the support of Aisha Alahmadi, Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Estelle Bégué and Fanny Matz, Scientific Documentalists for Paintings at Musée d’Orsay.
These prized artworks are on loan from multiple museums and cultural institutions – Musée d’Orsay, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art, Musée de Grenoble, Le Signe, Centre National des Arts Graphiques, Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-arts de la Ville de Paris, Musée National d’Art Moderne – Centre Georges Pompidou, and Louvre Abu Dhabi.
“In the last two decades of the 19th century, a young generation invented new ways of painting – the delicate stippling of Georges Seurat, the dazzling flat tints of Paul Gauguin, and the energetic impastos of Vincent van Gogh,” say Jean-Rémi and Jérôme. “Thanks to the exceptional masterpieces on loan from the Musée d’Orsay, the exhibition will show how, in opposition to academicism and drawing on the Impressionist model, a heterogeneous constellation of artists reinvented the conception of painting and art as a whole, culminating at the start of the 20th century in the assertion of abstract art, beyond appearances.”
A cultural programme will run alongside the exhibition, including a screening of Loving Vincent (2017), an animated film that tells the story of Van Gogh’s final days. Later, on December 6 and 7, the exhibition will also host two Secret Dinners, a culinary experience spanning an evening of music, art, and food, inspired by a secret ingredient that exists in one of the post-impressionist artworks on display.
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