Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Louvre Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the museum's latest exhibition, Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances, which opened to the public on October 16 and runs until February 9, 2025.
Organised in partnership with Musée d’Orsay and France Muséums, the exhibition showcases 100 remarkable artworks from the collections of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Musée d’Orsay, and other French institutions.
The exhibition is featuring works from artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat, and Henri-Edmond Cross, each of whom significantly influenced the evolution of the Post-Impressionist movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Curated by experts from both institutions, the exhibitions featuring an array of paintings, works on paper, and textiles, highlighting the transformative nature of Post-Impressionism.
Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: "In the wake of our exceptional exhibition with Musée d’Orsay, Impressionism: Pathways to Modernity, in 2022, we collaborated again to present Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances. The exhibition, whose colourful scenography echoes the artists’ palettes, allows visitors to discover and rediscover a period whose key words are innovation and a quest for openness, qualities that resonate with the blossoming artistic sector in the region, while fulfilling Louvre Abu Dhabi’s mission of presenting key moments in the history of art. Our sincere thanks to Musée d’Orsay, the exhibition curators, all the lenders and the sponsors for bringing to life what promises to be an exceptional exhibition."
Dr. Guilhem André, Scientific, Curatorial, and Collection Management Director, said that the exhibition features masterpieces from artists like Cross, Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Maurice Denis, each representing distinct styles while also revealing connections within this transformative period in art history.
Rabaté emphasised the exhibition’s significance in an exclusive interview with Aletihad, noting its key role in the cultural season and ongoing partnership with Musée d'Orsay.
"This is a very important exhibition for this season," Rabaté said.
"It is actually the third time we are working with Musée d’Orsay, and the second one around Impressionism. In 2022, we explored Impressionism as a revolution in art history, and now we are focusing on the period that followed – Post-Impressionism. This era, spanning the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century, was not organised under one artistic school but was defined by a multitude of talents. The term Post-Impressionism, coined by art critic Roger Fry, gathers these artists under a common umbrella."
Rabaté spotlighted the exhibition’s range of artists, comprising Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin, and Seurat, all of whom contributed to the global phenomenon of modernity in art.
On the broader collaboration between the UAE and France, Rabaté highlighted the unique partnership between Louvre Abu Dhabi and French museums.
“Louvre Abu Dhabi is an entity of Abu Dhabi, and we work closely with French museums, particularly on exhibitions. This collaboration gives us access to expertise, networks, and artworks that are both new discoveries and familiar icons,” he said, pointing out the exhibition’s inclusion from Musée d’Orsay and other lending institutions.
Rabaté also noted the uniqueness of the exhibition’s narrative and presentation.
"What is special is that there is not one linear story here. Instead, it’s a diversity of narratives, offering visitors multiple perspectives on Post-Impressionism and modernity. The scenography is unique, allowing each visitor to carve their own path through the exhibition," he said.
"The dialogue between East and West is a cornerstone of Louvre Abu Dhabi. Van Gogh, for instance, was heavily inspired by Japanese prints, and you can see that influence in this exhibition," Rabaté concluded.
Moreover, Jean-Rémi Touzet, Curator of Painting at Musée d’Orsay, shared exclusive insights with Aletihad about the collection’s significance and the era it represents.
"It is a constellation of artists who invented new ways of creating in the last two decades of the 19th century,” Touzet noted.
These artists, inspired by the revolutionary techniques of the Impressionists, forged their own paths by challenging traditional notions of art.
"They were not merely painting biblical or historical subjects anymore. They sought to depict modern life and explore what lies beyond the appearances," he added.
According to Touzet, colour played a critical role in this evolution, with many Post-Impressionists using new scientific theories of light and colour to create expressive, vibrant works.
He pointed out how artists like Seurat applied the principles of colour diffraction, while others like Van Gogh utilised bold brushstrokes and thick textures to convey emotion.
A dynamic scenography divides the exhibition into nine sections, each dedicated to the distinct journeys of Post-Impressionist artists.
Visitors can 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, leading to the 20th-century avant-garde.
