"19th Century French Painting" Exhibition

Finished

This exhibition attempts to reexamine the rich history of 19th century French painting. Previously, this period was understood in the context of a new classicism represented by the Romanticism of Delacroix and the realism of Courbet, followed by the innovations in Impressionism by Monet and Renoir. This shift towards a new movement in art, however, was only a stylistic innovation. The mainstream trends in the painting of the time were led not by these so-called avant-garde painters, but a group of academic artists who complied strictly with prevailing traditions. Featured here are works by academic painters who have generally been overlooked or undervalued in Japan, in an attempt to reevaluate their legacy in art history. From complex historical paintings and elegant nude portraits, this show represents an eloquent narrative of how these classical paintings have been passed down to our contemporary times. Although academicism and the avant-garde have often been construed as oppositional, they have in fact exerted a complicated, mutual influence on each other.

This exhibition is part of a series of events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama to the world. It also marks the 10th anniversary of the Shimane Museum of Art and the 20th anniversary of the Yokohama Museum of Art. Focusing on around 80 works drawn from important collections from almost 40 museums in France, America and Spain, this is a valuable opportunity to gain a comprehensive look at the appeal and charm of French painting in the 19th century.

[Image: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, "Venus at Paphos" (c. 1852), Musee d'Orsay © Photo RMN/H.Lewandowski/digital file by DNPartcom]

Schedule

Jun 12 (Fri) 2009-Aug 31 (Mon) 2009