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Monet's Quest for Time: Musée de l'Orangerie Centenary Exhibition

exhibition · 2026-05-06

In 2026, the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris will honor the 100th anniversary of Claude Monet's passing with an exhibition titled "Monet, peindre le temps," running from September 29, 2026, to January 25, 2027. This showcase will include around forty pieces sourced from the Musée d'Orsay, Musée Marmottan Monet, and various international loans, examining Monet's evolution from capturing fleeting moments to illustrating the nuances of time. Notable works from the 1890s, such as Meules, Peupliers, and Cathédrales de Rouen, will be featured, emphasizing light and atmosphere. The exhibition will also present later pieces like Les Matinées sur la Seine and views of London, culminating in the Nymphéas series, which began in the 1890s and was completed in 1927, offering an immersive experience of cyclical time.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'Monet, peindre le temps' runs from 29 September 2026 to 25 January 2027 at Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris.
  • 2026 marks 100 years since Claude Monet's death (1840-1926).
  • About forty works are loaned from Musée d'Orsay, Musée Marmottan Monet, and international collections.
  • The exhibition explores Monet's shift from capturing the instant to depicting time's variations, repetition, and duration.
  • Key series featured: Meules (1888-1891), Peupliers (1891-1892), Cathédrales de Rouen (1892-1898), Les Matinées sur la Seine (1896-1897), London views (1900-1904), and Nymphéas (1890s-1926).
  • Monet enlarged his Giverny pond in 1901 by diverting a branch of the Epte River.
  • After 1905, his Nymphéas paintings abandon horizon and traditional depth, focusing solely on water surface.
  • The final Nymphéas panels were installed at the Orangerie in 1927, arranged by Monet with Georges Clemenceau.
  • André Masson described the Orangerie Nymphéas rooms as the 'Sixtine Chapel of Impressionism' in 1952.

Entities

Artists

  • Claude Monet
  • André Masson

Institutions

  • Musée de l'Orangerie
  • Musée d'Orsay
  • Musée Marmottan Monet
  • Connaissance des Arts

Locations

  • Paris
  • France
  • Giverny
  • Rouen
  • London
  • Jardin des Tuileries
  • Epte River

Sources