© Image Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington - Galleria Borghese / ph. Mauro Coen - ADAGP, Paris, 2024 / Digital image Whitney Museum of American Art / Licensed by Scala
Autumn in Paris means it's time to hit the museums! September brings the joy of enriching your cultural knowledge with fascinating new exhibitions. The final chapter of 2024 is packed with events that art lovers won't want to miss. From Stephen Jones' hats at the Palais Galliera to Gustave Caillebotte's depictions of men at the Musée d'Orsay, the centenary of Surrealism at the Centre Pompidou, the reopening of the Musée Jacquemart-André, Jackson Pollock's early works at the Musée Pablo Picasso, a Pop Art showcase at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, and haute couture photography at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs—here’s a roundup of must-see exhibitions this autumn.
The Most Surreal
Surrealism was born in 1924 with the publication of André Breton's Manifesto of Surrealism, with leading figures like Salvador Dalí, Paul Éluard, René Magritte, Dora Maar, Arthur Rimbaud, and Louis Aragon. To celebrate its centenary, the Centre Pompidou is tracing 40 years of this movement. The exhibition features paintings, drawings, films, photographs, and literary documents, displayed in spiral-shaped rooms symbolizing the workings of the mind. A must-see event!
Max Ernst, L'ange du foyer (Le Triomphe du surréalisme), 1937 © Vincent Everarts Photographie © Adagp, Paris, 2024 - Dora Maar, Sans titre [Main-coquillage], 1934 © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI/Jacques Faujour/Dist. RMN-GP © Adagp, Paris, 2024 - Salvador Dalí, Rêve causé par le vol d’une abeille autour d’une pomme-grenade, une seconde avant l’éveil, 1944 © As per the specifications of the heirs of the Copyright owner or the managing society. Provenance: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid. © Salvador Dalí, Fundació Gala-Salvador Dali / Adagp, Paris 2024
The Most Humanist
Following Van Gogh, the Musée d'Orsay now focuses on the works of Gustave Caillebotte, specifically his depictions of men. While masculinity and republican brotherhood prevailed in the late 19th century, Caillebotte explored the male condition. In addition to painting the Parisian bourgeoisie, he was the first to depict workers in The Floor Scrapers, sportsmen in Boating Party, and even the intimate scene in Man at His Bath. This unique exhibition is a must-see!
© Image courtesy of The Art Institute of Chicago - Service presse/musée d’Orsay, dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt - Service presse / Musée d’Orsay, dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Sophie Crépy
The Most Avant-Garde
Why is Jackson Pollock the subject of a major exhibition at the Musée Pablo Picasso this fall? The Spanish artist was a significant influence on Pollock, a leading figure in Abstract Expressionism, during his early career. The museum will showcase Pollock's early works from 1934 to 1947, influenced by American Regionalism, Native American art, and Mexican muralism. These vibrant paintings still retain recognizable forms and subjects before Pollock transitioned to his famous dripping technique in the early 1950s.
© Pollock-Krasner Foundation / ADAGP, Paris 2024
The Most Pop
This is the most eagerly anticipated exhibition of the season! The Fondation Louis Vuitton brings together the biggest names in Pop Art, with over 200 works by 37 artists, focusing on Tom Wesselmann. Alongside Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Wesselmann is a key figure in this art movement inspired by 1960s pop culture, including comics, advertising, cinema, and celebrities. The exhibition also introduces lesser-known artists from the movement, such as Martial Raysse's neon works, Marjorie Strider's paintings, and Meret Oppenheim's sculptures. A burst of color and creativity awaits!
© ADAGP, Paris, 2024 / Paul Louis - Estate of Roy Lichtenstein New York/ADAGP, Paris, 2024 - ADAGP, Paris, 2024
The Most Glamorous
Fashion is also a matter of photography. To combat counterfeiting between the wars, hundreds of photos of couture collections were taken and used in numerous high-profile lawsuits at the time. Today, over 120 of these photos from the “model deposit” are exhibited at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. These images are more than mere evidence; they are witnesses to fashion from 1920 to 1940, showcasing designs by Jeanne Lanvin, Madeleine Vionnet, Elsa Schiaparelli, Hermès, and Lucien Lelong.
© Les Arts Décoratifs
The Most Roman
After over a year of renovations, the Musée Jacquemart-André is reopening with a grand exhibition: 40 masterpieces from the Galleria Borghese—one of Rome’s most prestigious museums—have traveled from the Eternal City to be displayed in Paris. This rare event offers the chance to admire works that are seldom loaned out, including paintings by Caravaggio, Rubens, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Bernini, and Veronese. Andiamo!
Masterpieces from the Borghese Gallery, September 6, 2024 - January 5, 2025, Musée Jacquemart-André, 158 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8th. More info online.
© Galleria Borghese / ph. Mauro Coen - Galleria Borghese / ph. Luciano Romano
The Most Fashionable
There’s the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, and then there’s... Stephen Jones. The most iconic fashion designers have collaborated with him to showcase his legendary hats in their collections, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Claude Montana, Thierry Mugler, and Vivienne Westwood. To honor the creations of this renowned milliner, the Palais Galliera presents over 170 hats, 40 outfits with accessories, and archives highlighting Jones’ connection to Paris, especially his long collaboration with Dior. A must-see for fashion lovers!
Stephen Jones: Artist’s Hats, October 19, 2024 - March 16, 2025, Palais Galliera, 10 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, Paris 16th. More info online.
Chapeau Charles James © Ben Toms - Portrait de Stephen Jones, 2024 © Koto Bolofo - Sewing, PE 2018 © Peter Ashworth
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