Paris Impressions of Life 1880 - 1925

Bendigo Art Museum, Bendigo

Exclusive to Bendigo Art Gallery, in conjunction with Musée Carnavalet , Paris: Impressions of Life 1880–1925 takes visitors on a journey through the lively and picturesque streets of historic Paris during the ‘Belle Epoque’.

The busy banks of the Seine, bustling marketplaces, grand boulevards, idyllic public gardens, and the heady atmosphere of bohemian Montmartre are brought to life in more than 170 works of art and artisan objects. From the renowned collection of the Musée Carnavalet - History of Paris, the iconic museum of the history of Paris, this exhibition reflects on an effervescent period of great social change, urban development and artistic innovation which shaped modern Paris and continues to capture the global imagination. 

Visitors tour seven themed pathways and discover artisan street signs, historic couture, decorative arts, and everyday ephemera alongside paintings by artists including Jean Béraud, the pre-eminent painter of Parisian life in the Belle Époque, Maurice Utrillo and Paul Signac, pioneer of the artistic technique of pointillism, as well as vibrant graphic prints by Toulouse-Lautrec and his contemporaries. 

The oldest municipal museum in Paris, the Musée Carnavalet was founded in 1866 to document the history, built environments, and unique character of Paris during a period of rapid modernisation. Located in the historic Marais district, the museum is home to over 620,000 works of art and artefacts from the Mesolithic period to the present day.

Organised by Musée Carnavalet, Paris

Photos by Leon Schoots

24 March - 14 July 2024