Paris is showcasing a distinctly patriotic flavor in its major art exhibitions this fall, with several prestigious venues celebrating French artistic masters. The Louvre is presenting what may be the most significant Jacques-Louis David exhibition in living memory, while the Petit Palais focuses on his Napoleonic era contemporary Jean-Baptiste Greuze, and Georges de la Tour takes center stage at the Musée Jacquemart-André.
Many of these exhibitions are tied to significant anniversaries, including the bicentenary of David's death and the 300th anniversary of Greuze's birth. Major private spaces are also making their mark this season, with the Fondation Cartier opening an architecturally striking new space to rival the Bourse de Commerce, home to the Pinault collection, which has decided to go big with an expansive survey on Minimalism.
The Jacques-Louis David retrospective at the Musée du Louvre, running from October 15 through January 26, marks two centuries since the artist's passing in 1825. As France's most important 18th-century painter, David lived and painted through six different political regimes and participated in the Revolution, making his work loaded with political significance and symbolism. The exhibition draws upon three decades of art historical research following the last monographical survey held in 1989, featuring masterpieces like "Les Sabines" (1799) and "The Death of Marat" (1793).
At the Petit Palais through January 25, "Jean-Baptiste Greuze: Childhood in the Spotlight" highlights the artist's prolific depiction of children and childhood, exploring key topics of the Enlightenment period. Though Greuze is better known for his history paintings, this exhibition uses roughly 100 artworks from international collections to examine sociopolitical issues like education and breastfeeding practices, as well as existential themes including death, family relationships, and biblical narratives.
A refreshing alternative to traditional art fairs, 7 Rue Froissart runs from October 19-25 as an antidote to rigidly structured shows like Art Basel Paris. Brigitte Mulholland, who opened her gallery in Paris in 2024 after 20 years in New York, has joined forces with Sara Maria Salamone, co-founder of Queens-based Mrs. gallery, to foster a more collaborative, trans-disciplinary approach. Visitors can expect experimental presentations and performances, including a drag act satirizing the Met Gala.
The Musée Jacquemart-André presents "Georges de La Tour: From Shadow to Light" through January 25, the first French retrospective on the artist since 1997. The exhibition focuses on the enduring appeal of chiaroscuro and its ability to imbue scenes with varying dramatic flavors, from humane depictions of ordinary folk to intimate religious narratives and moralizing genre paintings. Although there's no evidence that de la Tour traveled to Italy, Caravaggio's influence is nonetheless apparent in his somber, still compositions.
American photography takes the spotlight at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie with "Tyler Mitchell: Wish This Was Real," running from October 15 through January 25. Atlanta-born Mitchell made history as the first Black photographer to shoot a Vogue cover at age 23. This major survey of his decade-long career showcases images grounded in everyday life while capturing eternal questions of identity, self-awareness, and beauty, often drawing upon historical themes like colonialism and its impact on the contemporary Black experience.
The Musée d'Orsay presents "Sargent: Dazzling Paris" through January 11, aiming to introduce French audiences to this American giant of painting who remains relatively unknown in France. The exhibition focuses on John Singer Sargent's Parisian training under Carolus-Duran in 1874, featuring 90 paintings arranged in collaboration with The Met, some never before exhibited in France. Special attention is given to his controversial 1884 portrait of Virginie Gautreau, which caused his virtual cultural expulsion from the country.
Continuing its tour of 20th-century painterly masters, the Fondation Louis Vuitton presents a comprehensive Gerhard Richter survey from October 17 through March 2. Following previous exhibitions of David Hockney, Joan Mitchell, and Basquiat, this show spans from 1962 to 2024 with 270 artworks showcasing Richter's extremes, from photorealism to squeegee abstractions. The exhibition includes quieter interludes of sculptures and drawings, offering a comprehensive landscape of the artist's moods, themes, and techniques.
The Fondation Cartier's new location opens October 25 in a Haussmannian building opposite the Louvre, designed by Jean Nouvel. The architect transformed the historic structure with large bay windows that create openness toward the outside and five mobile platforms allowing flexibility in exhibition design. The foundation's inaugural exhibition draws upon its entire collection spanning 40 years, with selections from more than 100 collected artists serving as the institution's manifesto for its place on the Parisian art stage.
The Bourse de Commerce explores "Minimal" through January 19, with the Pinault collection expanding beyond the often simplified understanding of Minimalism as merely "less is more." The exhibition draws upon varying movements within this umbrella term, from Japan's Mono-ha movement, which sought to explore space and interdependency, to Brazil's Neo-Concrete art. Additional curation by themes like Light, Balance, and Surface suggests the greater depth offered by this often misunderstood movement.
Finally, the Cinémathèque française celebrates cinema with "My Name Is Orson Welles" through January 11, marking the 40th anniversary of the filmmaker's death. While Welles's late-career activities, including an ill-advised champagne commercial, have unfairly colored perceptions of this polymath, the exhibition reminds visitors of his creative scope beyond his crowning achievement in "Citizen Kane" at age 25. The hundreds of works on display span radio, sculpture, and drawing, offering film enthusiasts primary evidence surrounding his 12 iconic films and broader creative legacy.
