Paris is an incredible city, famed for many things. This summer, the Musée d’Orsay is hosting an exhibition to celebrate the development and evolution of the Impressionist art movement, for which France is now so famous. There are several sites around the city where famous artists such as Monet and Van Gogh painted, so check out these places to visit before or after you’ve been to the ‘Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism’ exhibition at the museum.
The Grands Boulevards of the Right Bank
These beautiful, wide streets provided plenty of inspiration for Impressionist painters such as Degas and Monet. With the pale stone of the houses and the rows of planted plane trees, these streets are designed to catch and reflect light, something that was very important to Impressionist artists. Explore the area around the Boulevard des Capucines, where in 1874 one of the houses hosted the first Impressionist exhibition.
Tuileries Gardens
These stunning gardens are visited by many tourists seeking a little respite and some natural beauty amongst the buzz and thrill of the city. The Impressionist artist Monet was struck by the quality of light in this natural space and recorded it in several of his works. The gardens are especially beautiful in spring and early summer, so make sure to visit them if you’re heading to Paris soon.
Train Stations
Many of the stations in Paris are ornate and constructed with large amounts of glass to let in the light. For this reason, artists including Monet and Degas spent lots of time sketching them, trying to capture the play of light and the rush of people. If you’re passing through one of the city’s stations, such as Gare du Nord, it’s worth pausing for a moment to notice the quality of the light and architecture in these spaces.
