The beginning of the 20th century was without a doubt one of the most progressive periods in all of history. In such a short period of time, so much of the known world changed and what was once considered the canon of art was overtaken by some of today’s most well known images and artists.
When people hear Impressionism and Expressionism, a few names and places come quickly to mind. Germany and France were the two core countries involved in both of these movements and camps have been seriously divided on the nature of these modern art Meccas. Cezanne, Gauguin, Matisse, Kandinsky, and Van Gogh, some of the leading minds and artists of the early 20th century, are now on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to trace the path of some of the most influential years of modern art history.
The gallery space is divided chronologically where guests are invited to walk through the history of both movements and understand how both are deeply rooted in a new modern visual aesthetic that broke away from the academic tradition of the 18th and 19th century. The various rooms dedicated to Paris in the 1900’s, the rise of nationalism and the growing unrest before World War I, and the creation of Die Brucke and Der Blaue Reiter founded in Germany and Paris respectively, help shape the political, social, and cultural context of these important art movements.
This collection, on loan from the the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), offers an exceptional look at the cross-cultural impact of both movements and their lasting influence on modern art. The exhibition is on until January 25, 2015; art lovers don’t miss out!
For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit the museum’s website.
1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, QC H3G 1J5
(514) 285-2000