It's never to early to become an Impressionism fan!

"I paint what I see, not what other people like to see" explained Edouard Manet. This maxim is a perfect formula to describe the change of perspective brought about by Impressionism, born in France between 1860 and 1890. Are you ready to introduce children to this major artistic movement? As part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Impressionist movement (1874-2024), the regions and museums are organising a host of festivities and activities dedicated to Impressionism for all ages, including the very young. Follow the guide.

With La Piscine and le Musée d’Orsay in Roubaix

This iconic Art Deco venue, which already houses many Impressionist works, is organising a reunion of Impressionist children (with three works on loan from the Musée d'Orsay) from 17 February to 26 May 2024 at the request of its "Mona Lisa", Camille Claudel's La Petite Châtelaine. This will also be an opportunity for La Piscine to present some of its works on childhood, with a parallel exhibition entitled "Les Enfants de la Piscine".
On 23 and 24 March, a weekend of activities and guided tours will be organised for families.

Find out more about the exhibition "Les Enfants des Impressionnistes", activities and workshops for the general public (External link)

With the MUba and Musée d'Orsay in Tourcoing

Impressionism is certainly being celebrated in every region of France this year. This includes Tourcoing, where the MUba Eugène Leroy is taking advantage of the loan of 57 masterpieces from the national collections to organise an exhibition on the birth of Impressionist Landscapes from 16 March to 24 June 2024. This is an opportunity to admire works by Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Cézanne, Gauguin...

Find out more about the "Painting Nature" exhibition, activities and workshops for the general public (External link)

The Museum of Impressionism in Giverny

In Normandy, the Musée des impressionnismes in Giverny is organising an exhibition entitled "Impressionism and the Sea" from 29 March, which will appeal to young and old alike. The exhibition includes works by Eugène Boudin, J.B. Jongkind, Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Impressionism, the Musée d'Orsay is lending 16 masterpieces, including Édouard Manet's famous L'Évasion de Rochefort. The exhibition will run from 29 March to 30 June 2024.

Then, from 12 July, the museum will host the exhibition Hiramatsu Reiji.
Symphony of the Water Lilies
, the work of the Japanese artist who fell under the spell of Claude Monet's Water Lilies and brought his fascination to life in a variety of media: canvases, panels, prints, notebooks and drawings. The exhibition is also part of the Impressionist centenary celebrations. The exhibition will run from 12 July to 3 November 2024.

From April, the Musée de Giverny will be organising monthly guided tours of the garden, led by the head gardener, so that visitors can enjoy a wonderful discovery walk and pick up lots of tips for their own gardens.

With the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Caen

Always a very active participant in the Normandie Impressioniste festival (5th edition in 2024), the Musée des Beaux-Arts has decided this year to approach the Impressionist theme from an original angle, that of the merchant city from 1860 to 1914. To do this, it is receiving loans from the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris. Young visitors will be able to take advantage of a number of special events on the opening weekend of the exhibition, with a weekend dedicated to families on 6 and 7 April, and workshops for older teenagers on 12 April and July. Exhibition from 6 April to 8 September 2024.

With the Hôtel de Caumont in Aix-en-Provence

From 3 May to 6 October, the Centre d'Art will also be capturing the spirit of Impressionism, with a special focus on Pierre Bonnard and his love of Japanese art. This inspiration strongly influenced his work and his aesthetic principles, and will be brilliantly highlighted by a dialogue between the master's creations and a selection of Japanese prints exhibited nearby.
Find out more about the "Bonnard and Japan" exhibition, activities and workshops for the general public (External link)

The Musée de l’Orangerie and the Musée de l’Orangerie

The two Parisian museums that have a special place in the history of Impressionism offer children the opportunity to discover this movement all year round, either through special guided tours (baby tours, dance tours, storytelling tours) or through workshops.

To celebrate the centenary of this artistic movement, the Musée d'Orsay is organising a series of events to which young people are naturally invited:

A great programme for budding artists!