The Dutch in Paris 1789-1914
In the spectacular exhibition The Dutch in Paris 1789–1914, the Van Gogh Museum presents the French capital as seen through the eyes and hearts of eight Dutch artists: Van Spaendonck, Scheffer, Jongkind, Kaemmerer, Breitner, Van Gogh, Van Dongen and Mondrian.
Kees van Dongen, The Blue Dress, 1911, oil on canvas
Their work – from large, iconic canvases to tiny pearls – is shown in this configuration for the first time along with work by their French contemporaries. At its heart is the inspiration Dutch artists found in Paris, their encounters with French artists and the impact this had on their art.
The Dutch in Paris 1789–1914 (a collaboration with Paris Musées / Petit Palais and the RKD – The Netherlands Institute for Art History) showcases more than a hundred and twenty works, among them many loans from museums and private collections worldwide.
In the 19th century, Paris truly beguiled artists from all over Europe. Large numbers of them left their native countries to go where the action was. Between 1789 and 1914, several hundred Dutch artists also travelled to the French capital.
Gerard van Spaendonck, Flowers in an Alabaster Vase and Fruits on a Marble Top, 1781, oil
Dutch artists met their French counterparts in academies like the famous Ecole des Beaux-Arts (‘the arena for the very best’), in private studios and salons, in the street and in cafés. Inspired by this new world called Paris, they created cross-border works. Dutch artists like Jongkind, Breitner, Van Gogh, Van Dongen and Mondrian met Monet, Degas, Signac, Pissarro, Cézanne, Braque and Picasso. Back and forth they inspired one another to develop new styles and techniques.
Johan Barthold Jongkind, Paris, Notre-Dame vue du quai de la Tournelle, 1852, oil on canvas
Not only did artists like Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso influence the work of Dutch artists, the Dutch left their mark on French art too. For example, it was Jongkind who taught Monet, Boudin and Sisley how to capture light on the canvas.
Dutch painters returning home from Paris influenced their fellow artists in the Netherlands. Breitner brought French impressionism back home, prompting Isaac Israels to paint ballerinas and nudes. These were subjects that had previously been quite unusual among Dutch artists.
The exhibition The Dutch in Paris 1789-1914 is the first large-scale exhibition to illuminate this thrilling artistic interaction.
Vincent van Gogh, View from Vincent’s Studio, 1886, oil on cardboard
View images from the exhibition in this visual narrative about Vincent van Gogh and how The City of Light changed his life and work.
The Dutch in Paris 1789-1914 is on view now through January 7, 2018, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated publication exploring the mutual inspiration between Dutch and French artists in 19th century Paris.
Visit the exhibition page to plan your visit and view related events at:
https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/exhibitions/the-dutch-in-paris
About the Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum makes the life and work of Vincent van Gogh and the art of his time accessible to as many people as possible in order to enrich and inspire them.
Vincent van Gogh, Montmartre: Behind the Moulin de la Galette, 1887, oil on canvas
A great resource to discover the work of Vincent van Gogh and follow research on his life and his materials, the Van Gogh museum’s website link to the latest updates is at:
https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/knowledge-and-research
