In Paris, welcome the new year with art, in the company of the works of Claude Monet. To mark the centenary of his death, the Musée de l’Orangerie is devoting a major exhibition to the way the master of Impressionism captured, stretched and fragmented time. “Monet, Painting Time” runs until 25 January 2027 at the Musée de l’Orangerie. It’s the perfect opportunity for a cultural getaway in Paris, and the Hôtel Moderniste is delighted to welcome you.
An Exhibition for the Centenary of Claude Monet
Considered the Impressionist artist par excellence, Monet took part in only five of the group’s exhibitions. His painting nonetheless sums up its spirit: working outdoors, quick brushwork and light harmonies that convey the impression of a fleeting moment.
The Musée de l’Orangerie offers a fresh perspective here, exploring Monet’s relationship with time. The exhibition brings together nearly forty paintings, coming mainly from the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée Marmottan Monet, supplemented by loans from public and private collections, both French and international.
A Journey in Three Stages
The exhibition unfolds in three stages that trace the painter’s artistic evolution alongside the changes in society:
1. The Acceleration of the 19th Century
Clocks appearing throughout public spaces, the rise of the railways, cities in transformation: Monet’s century was moving to a different rhythm. His Impressionist painting, in pursuit of the instant, responds to this revolution in the perception of time.
2. The Series, or Time Fragmented
From the 1890s, Monet painted the same subject at different times of day. Haystacks, poplars on the banks of the Epte, mornings on the Seine, Rouen Cathedral: in Normandy, he pushed the logic of the moment to the point of breaking time down in order to grasp its essence.
3. The Water Lilies, or Time Regained
The artist’s final cycle, which occupied him until his death: more than 250 canvases devoted to a single subject. The exhibition lingers on this cycle, which goes beyond the fragmentation of the series to rediscover continuity, a duration almost in the sense of the philosopher Henri Bergson.
Discover or Rediscover the Musée de l’Orangerie
This exhibition could only be held here. The museum houses the great Water Lilies decorations, donated to France just after the Armistice of 1918 and inaugurated in 1927, a year after the painter’s death. André Masson nicknamed them the “Sistine Chapel of Impressionism.” After the exhibition, you can extend your visit into the two oval rooms and let yourself be enveloped by these panels, conceived as a total environment.
Please note: the exhibition will then travel to the Tate Modern in London, from 25 February to 27 June 2027. Paris is therefore the only place to see it before the end of January.
Practical Information
- Dates: until 25 January 2027
- Location: Musée de l’Orangerie, Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde (Seine side), 75001 Paris
- Opening hours: daily from 9 am to 6 pm, closed on Tuesdays
Extend Your Visit
Throughout the exhibition, the museum offers guided tours (including one in English), a virtual reality experience entitled Claude Monet, au fil de l’eau, and workshop-tours for children aged 6 to 12, such as “À la poursuite du temps avec Monet” (“Chasing Time with Monet”).
Stay at the Hôtel Moderniste
To enjoy the exhibition stress-free, there’s nothing like a room at the Hôtel Moderniste: a comfortable base for exploring Paris, with the option of booking a Friday evening late-opening slot and returning to the hotel for the night. Book your stay on our official website to benefit from our best rates.
Photo ©National Gallery of Art - Unsplash