Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment

National Gallery of Art hosts historic French art exhibition.

Jules Breton, La Falaise, 1874, oil on canvas, Eric Weider — Photo by nga.gov

Opening September 8, 2024 and on exhibit through January 19, 2025, the National Gallery of Art (NGA) explores Impressionism. Discover the origins of the French art movement in a new look at the radical 1874 exhibition considered the birth of modern painting.

Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment is a remarkable presentation of 130 works includes a rare reunion of many of the paintings first featured in that now-legendary exhibition. Revisit beloved paintings by Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir and meet their lesser-known contemporaries. See the art norms they were rebelling against and learn what political and social shifts sparked their new approach to art.

Don’t miss the unique chance to immerse yourself in the dynamic Parisian art scene of 1874—NGA is the only American stop for this historic exhibition.

While this exhibition is not ticketed, you may need to join a line or virtual queue on weekends and busier days. Independently led groups are not permitted.

Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872, oil on canvas, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, gift of Eugène and Victorine Donop de Monchy, 1940. Inv. 4014
© Musée Marmottan Monet/Studio Christian Baraja SLB

Art History