Photos: Tiffany Shum
Beloved for their lush landscapes and sea vistas, the masterpieces of Impressionism are some of the world’s most recognizable artworks. The distinctive styles of Monet, Degas, Pissarro and others are seen on the walls of the most monumental museums, but are also present in our daily lives through countless reproductions on posters, notecards and calendars. A current AGO exhibition broadens that view of Impressionism, shining a new light on the work of some of the world’s most famous artists. In a groundbreaking first, Impressionism in the Age of Industry: Monet, Pissarro and more explores the Impressionists’ fascination with industry, technology, and labour during the rapid industrialization of Paris and France in the 1800s. This collection of rare and exceptional artworks invites AGO visitors to imagine their own city in the changing streets, lives and landscapes of late 19th century France.
(click on photos to enlarge)
Organized by the AGO and curated by Dr. Caroline Shields, the AGO’s Assistant Curator of European Art, this revelatory exhibition features over 120 paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs and period films, including rare works from museums in the United States and Europe.
“At the heart of this exhibition is a collision between the old and the new, as people, cities and ways of life are dissembled and rebuilt. The thrills and challenges that we experience in times of immense change are feelings that persist just as strongly today in Toronto as they did in Paris in the 1870s. Issues of affordability, sprawl and transit are just as prevalent now as they were 150 years ago,” Dr. Shields says. “Seeing these works together for the first time provides an incredibly rich addition to the story of Impressionism as we know it.”
Timed-entry tickets are $16.50 for post-secondary students and youth ages 17 and under, $21.50 for seniors and $25 for adults. Tickets are available online at ago.ca, in person and by phone. Admission is free for AGO Members and for children five and under. More information on the benefits of AGO membership can be found at www.ago.ca/membership.
Impressionism in the Age of Industry: Monet, Pissarro and more is organized by the AGO.
The exhibition is accompanied by a variety of thematic programs, menus and other offerings, including themed cocktails and french cuisine. You can see our cocktail coverage HERE