Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (WAM)
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Louvre Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the museum’s latest exhibition, Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances. The all-new exhibition opens to the public on October 16, 2024, and will run until February 9, 2025.
Organised by Louvre Abu Dhabi in partnership with Musée d’Orsay and France Muséums, the exhibition features masterpieces by visionary artists including Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat, Henri-Edmond Cross, Emile Bernard, Paul Sérusier, Paul Gauguin et Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, which defined the Post-Impressionist movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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, the exhibition will display around 100 artworks including paintings, works on paper, and textile from nine museums and cultural institutions.
The exhibition is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and supported by L’Officiel Arabia as media partner.
Commenting on the new exhibition, Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said, "Following our successful collaboration with Musée d’Orsay on Impressionism: Pathways to Modernity in 2022, we’ve partnered again for Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances. This exhibition, with its vibrant scenography, explores innovation and openness—qualities that resonate with the region’s growing art scene. Our thanks to Musée d’Orsay, the curators, lenders, and sponsors for making this exceptional exhibition possible."
Unique Perspective
Dr. Guilhem André, Scientific, Curatorial and Collection Management Director, said, "Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances features masterpieces from artists such as Henri-Edmond Cross, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and Maurice Denis. Each artist offers a unique perspective on the movement, while the exhibition celebrates their individual styles and the connections that define this transformative era in art history."
He added, "The exhibition, which includes artists like Georges Hanna Sabbagh, exemplifies the far-reaching influence of Post-Impressionism and reflects the museum’s commitment to expanding the art history canon."
Exhibition curators Jean-Rémi Touzet and Jérôme Farigoule noted, "In the late 19th century, artists like Georges Seurat, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh introduced new techniques, reshaping painting and art. This exhibition, with masterpieces from Musée d'Orsay, showcases how these artists moved beyond academic conventions to pave the way for abstract art."
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Prints Collection
Highlights of the paintings on loan from Musée d’Orsay include Bedroom in Arles (1889) and The Siesta (between 1889 and 1890) by Vincent Van Gogh; The Hair (circa 1892) and The Evening Air by Henri-Edmond Cross (circa 1893); Portrait of Madam Cézanne (1885 and 1890) and Still Life with Onions (circa 1896 – 1898) by Paul Cézanne; Breton Women with Umbrellas (1892) by Emile Bernard; and The Talisman, The Aven River at the Bois d’Amour (1888) by Paul Sérusier. Prints from Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection will also be on display including Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake, from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Famous of Edo (1857) and Plum Estate, Kameido, from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1857) by Utagawa Hiroshige.
Two paintings by Egyptian artist Georges Hanna Sabbagh will also be on display: The Artist and His Family at the Church of La Clarté, 1920 (loan from Centre Pompidou) and The Family: The Sabbaghs in Paris, 1921 (loan from Musée de Grenoble).
Colourful Scenography
Sylvain Amic, President of Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie, said, "We are proud to collaborate with Louvre Abu Dhabi on this important cultural exchange, which strengthens ties between the UAE, the Gulf region, and the global art community. My thanks to all the teams involved, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Louvre Abu Dhabi and France Muséums."
The exhibition’s unique and colourful scenography is structured into nine captivating sections, each highlighting the distinct journeys of Post-Impressionist artists. Visitors are invited to explore the Neo-Impressionist Path; Cézanne Path; Gauguin and Pont-Aven Path; Van Gogh Path; Nabis Path; Toulouse-Lautrec Path; Odilon Redon Path; the Prints; and the New Ways, from Post-Impressionism to the avant-garde of the 20th Century.
These sections allow visitors to get a closer look at the Post-Impressionist masters and encourage personal interpretation of the works. Through four interactive multimedia devices, visitors will get the chance to engage in video projections and interactive stories about the artists and experiment with the creation of their own artworks.
Lenders to the exhibition include 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.
A rich cultural and educational programme will accompany Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances, offering an array of events. A public talk with the exhibition’s curators will take place on October 15 and a recorded podcast will be available on Louvre Abu Dhabi’s website and mobile application, for the public to explore the exhibition.
Secret Dinners, a culinary experience inspired by a secret ingredient that exists in one of the Post-Impressionism exhibition artworks, will be held on December 6 - 7. The experience will feature music, art and food inspired by the Post-Impressionism school.
Film screening of Loving Vincent tells the story of a young man who comes to the last hometown of painter Vincent van Gogh to deliver the troubled artist's final letter and ends up investigating his final days there.
A series of educational activities will be available for adults, families and youth including a specialised interactive Young Visitors’ Guide for students and children to explore the exhibition through questions, clues and fun facts, in addition to family weekend activations at the end of each month.
Adult visitors will have specific post-impressionists’ sessions of the museum’s programmes such as Drawing at the Museum and Book an Easel, in addition to dedicated guided tours.
The Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances exhibition catalogue is available in Arabic, English and French at the museum’s boutique.
