In 19th century France, cities modernized, bringing major changes to people's lives. Citizens were now free to travel to the suburbs and countryside and enjoy sightseeing. These social changes also had a major impact on artists. Painters such as Corot and Courbet emerged, attempting to depict the nature, lifestyles, and reality around them as they actually experienced them.

Jean-François Millet, a representative of the Barbizon School, moved to the village of Barbizon on the outskirts of Paris and painted landscapes and rural life, depicting the daily lives of peasants rooted in the land. Since his work was introduced to Japan in the early Meiji period, Millet's depictions of earnest working people have made a deep impression on us. At a time when history paintings were considered the orthodox form of painting, the innovative approaches of the Barbizon School painters, who focused on landscapes, were continued by Impressionist painters such as Monet and Renoir, who explored light and color.

As the Impressionist style became widespread at the end of the 19th century, painting saw a wide expansion in diversity during the Post-Impressionist period. Post-Impressionist painters such as Denis and Bonnard paved the way for 20th-century painting. This exhibition traces the lineage of 19th century French painting, from Naturalism and Realism to Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and the Nabis, focusing on exquisite collections from museums in France and the UK.

Jean-François Millet, Collecting Firewood in Winter, 1868-1875
(C)Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
Event Overview
Period: Saturday, December 19, 2020 – Sunday, January 24, 2021 *Open daily during the exhibition period
Venue: Sogo Museum of Art (Yokohama Station East Exit, 6th floor of Sogo Yokohama)
Opening hours: 10:00am – 8:00pm
*Closing at 6:00pm on Thursday, December 31st ）。 English: *Friday, January 1st (national holiday): 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM *Last admission 30 minutes before closing *Follows the opening hours of the Sogo Yokohama store.
Admission: Adults 1,300 (1,100) yen, university and high school students 800 (600) yen, junior high school students and younger free *Tax included. *Prices in parentheses are advance ticket prices. *Millennium/Club On Card, Seven Card Plus, or Seven Card holders can enter the museum at the price in parentheses by presenting their card. *Persons with a disability certificate and one accompanying person can enter free of charge. *Advance tickets are available until December 18th at the Sogo Museum of Art, Seven Tickets, Lawson Tickets, e+, and Ticket Pia.

*We ask for your understanding and cooperation in our efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. *Exhibitions may be canceled or postponed, and some content may change. *For the latest information, please visit the Sogo Yokohama Store and Sogo Museum of Art websites.

Introduction

Jean-François Millet, "Affair," 1858-59
(C)Musée Thomas Henry, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Jean-François Millet, "Thunderstorm," c. 1847
(C)Musée Thomas Henry, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Castel Gandolfo, Tyrolean Shepherds Dancing on Lake Albano, 1855-60
(C)Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
Paul Cézanne, "Landscape in Provence," date unknown
(C)Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
Claude Monet, "Water Lilies," 1906
(C)Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales 


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