The French Collection (II) (Room 29)

As the name suggests, most works in the French collection have ties to Paris, though the artists themselves represent several nationalities. The focus is on impressionism and early modernism. Impressionism sought to capture fleeting impressions—moments, atmospheres, and particular qualities of light. Artists often painted outdoors, directly in front of their subject, which was revolutionary at the time. This practice is frequently considered the starting point of artistic modernism. Here you will find works by impressionists such as Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and Pierre Auguste Renoir, as well as post impressionists like Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh. The rooms also include examples of later movements—symbolism, naivism, cubism and surrealism—represented by artists such as Greta Knutsson Tzara, Marc Chagall and Jean Metzinger.