On May 18, the Musée Bossuet in Meaux opened its doors to the soft, ever-changing light of the Seine-et-Marne region, with an enchanting exhibition entitled La Peinture de Paysage en Seine-et-Marne au Temps des Impressionnistes (Landscape Painting in Seine-et-Marne at the Time of the Impressionists). The exhibition invites you on a pictorial journey, where each canvas is an open window on a bucolic and vibrant past. The museum's warm welcome and meticulous organization of the exhibition immediately immerse visitors in an atmosphere of discovery and contemplation. Our media team took part in a guided tour of this fascinating exhibition.
It all begins in Barbizon, the first stop on this journey, where visitors are greeted by majestic landscapes. Here, towering trees and light-filled glades tell the story of the painters' first outdoor adventures. Their brushes capture the secret life of the forests, paying homage to nature in its purest expression. These works from the early Barbizon school are a reminder of how nature was an inexhaustible source of inspiration, a constant subject of study for these artists in search of truth and beauty.
To paint in the open air is to feel the breeze on your skin, to hear the murmur of leaves and birdsong. Armed with their easels and colors, artists immortalize these fleeting moments, these bursts of life captured on the spot. Each painting becomes a living testimony to the communion between man and nature. You can almost feel the damp earth beneath the painters' feet, share their wonder at the play of light and the changing hues of the landscapes they so passionately observed and recreated.
The rise of the painters' colonies echoed the laughter and impassioned discussions of the artists gathered together. In Barbizon, Luzancy and Lagny, creative communities were formed, sharing techniques and inspirations, building schools of thought where tradition and modernity rubbed shoulders and confronted each other. This community life, rich in exchange and artistic emulation, is palpable in the works on display. The painters influence each other, each bringing his or her own unique vision and distinctive style, while learning from the discoveries and techniques of others.
On the banks of ponds and rivers, the play of light dances on the water. Waterscapes become mirrors of emotions, where time seems suspended. Impressionist painters capture these fleeting moments, these flashes of light that dazzle the soul. Changing reflections, rippling water and shifting skies are just some of the challenges the artists brilliantly met. Their ability to capture the moment, to translate the fleeting beauty of natural scenes, is remarkably highlighted in this exhibition.
In the villages of Luzancy and Lagny, life goes on peacefully. The artists, keen observers, capture the simple beauty of everyday scenes, from golden wheat fields to picturesque alleyways. Each brushstroke is a caress, each color an emotion. The works of these groups of painters testify to a great sensitivity to light, the seasons and the human activities that punctuate rural life. These paintings offer a soothing, poetic vision of the Seine-et-Marn countryside, where every detail is imbued with a tender affection for the place and its inhabitants.
The inhabited landscape reveals the human presence in these natural settings. Farmers at work, children at play, herds grazing become inseparable elements of the landscape. The painting comes to life, populated by discreet, essential lives. These genre scenes, full of life and movement, illustrate the harmonious cohabitation between man and nature. They capture simple yet deeply moving moments of everyday life, evoking a bygone era that is still alive in our collective memory.
The legacy of the painters brings this artistic journey to a close. Techniques evolve, styles diversify, but the spirit of the Impressionist and Barbizon masters continues to vibrate in each creation. Their quest for light, their love of nature and their innovative vision are echoed in contemporary works. This continuity is particularly well illustrated by the presence of modern paintings inspired by the same landscapes, using new techniques while retaining the essence of Impressionism and plein air.
This exhibition, orchestrated by Laura Leze, deputy director of the Cité épiscopale, and enriched by the scientific advice of Damien Blanchard, brings together treasures on loan from prestigious museums and private collections. The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Reims, the Musée du Domaine Départemental de Sceaux and many others have generously contributed to this celebration of landscape art. Thanks to these exceptional loans, visitors can admire rare and precious works that bear witness to the evolution of landscape painting in Seine-et-Marne.
Among the works on display are Le Charlemagne et le Roland, deux chênes de la forêt de Fontainebleau by A.L. Castellan, La Vallée du Grand Morin by Georges Serrier, and La jeune fermière au canard by Lucien Berthault. Each of these works, in terms of style and technique, makes a unique contribution to understanding the evolution of landscape painting. They also reveal the diversity of artistic approaches and sensibilities of the painters who chose this region as a source of inspiration.
Whether you're an art lover, history buff or simply curious, this exhibition is an invitation to reverie and discovery. Immerse yourself in the serene world of Seine-et-Marne landscapes and let yourself be transported by the magic of these canvases, which, like windows in time, offer a glimpse of nature's eternal beauty. Don't miss this unique opportunity to travel back in time and rediscover Seine-et-Marne. This exhibition is a true tribute to the richness and diversity of this region's artistic heritage, a vibrant testament to the painters' love of nature and the light that transforms every landscape into a work of art.
Curated by
Laura Leze, deputy director of the Cité épiscopale, with scientific advice from Damien Blanchard.
Lenders :
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Reims, Musée du domaine départemental de Sceaux, Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Melun, Musée Alfred Bonno, Chelles, Médiathèque Luxembourg, Meaux, Château de Rentilly musée intercommunal (Fonds Gatien-Bonnet), Lagny-sur-Marne, Mairie de Crécy-la-Chapelle, Musée des Capucins, Coulommiers, Musée Jean de la Fontaine, Château-Thierry, Private collections, Musée départemental des peintres de Barbizon, Centre national des arts plastiques, Paris.
Practical information
Exhibition from May 18 to September 22, 2024
Musée Bossuet, 5 place Charles-de-Gaulle 77100 Meaux
Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Tuesdays. The museum is closed on May 1 and July 14.
Included in admission: €5/€4 concessions
Free admission on 1st Sunday of each month
Photos : Michel Colletier / Mulderville