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MH de Young Museum
Birth of Impresionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay
— May 22 - September 6, 2010

"Merely think, here is a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow, and paint it just as it looks to you"
- Claude Monet

The Dancing Lesson
by Edgar Degas (1873–1876)

Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay
Now you don't have to travel all the way to Paris to see these magnificent works of art. "Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay" exhibit is on display at the de Young Museum in San Francisco — from May 22 to September 6, 2010.

The exhibition includes approximately 100 paintings from the Musée d’Orsay’s permanent collection and highlights the work of William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Gustave Courbet, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Pierre-August Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and James Abbott McNeill Whistler, among others. 

Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1:
Portrait of the Artist's Mother ("Whistler's Mother") by James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1871)

The term "Impressionists" was born in 1874 — and today, Impressionism is recognized as one of the most important art movements in the 19th century.

Impressionist and Post Impressionist artists were influenced by Japanese prints which were discovered in the 1860s.

This treasured collection is on loan from the The Musée d’Orsay in Paris while they undergo a partial closure for refurbishment — the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings will be reinstalled in their permanent galleries in spring 2011 in anticipation of Musée d’Orsay's 25th Anniversary.

The Musée d’Orsay in Paris

Old Train Station in Paris
- now The Musée d’Orsay

Portrait of Mademoiselle L.L.
by James Tissot (1864)

"Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay" will be followed in the fall of 2010 by "Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne, and Beyond: Post–Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay." 

The de Young is the only museum in the world to host both of the Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay exhibitions, and this particular combination of paintings will never travel again.

Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)

"Birth of Impressionism" is spectacular! Even if you've seen this exhibit in Paris (the Museé d'Orsay is our favorite museum), it's worth another visit to see these amazing masterpieces. Audio tours are highly recommended — you get so much detailed and historical information. It's a very popular exhibit, so be prepared for crowds!

"I hope that (these exhibitions) will excite the interest of the American public in order to strengthen further the links between our two countries"
Nicolas Sarkozy,
President of the French Republic

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Concourse Parking
Parking (for cars and bicycles) is available in the Concourse parking facility. Access to the north entrance is from Fulton St. @ 10th Ave. Access to the south entrance is at Concourse Dr. and Martin Luther King Dr. inside the park.

Open daily, year-round.

Limited parking is available on John F. Kennedy Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

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