In 1914, the world is jolted in a radical way. World War I upends history, the lives of millions, and their view of life, the future, and the present. Artists are deeply influenced by these shifts in codes, and these changes show up in their work. Landscape art shifts and becomes more complex. The art of landscape changes and grows more intricate. The musée Marmottant Monet is examining this 20th-century take on landscape, at a time when History disrupts every society and forces itself into art.
The exhibition Histoires de paysages, de Monet à Hockney is on view from September 24, 2026 to January 31, 2027. This exhibition brings together more than a hundred varied works spanning from the late 19th century to today, in a chronological and thematic journey that invites a dialogue between major French and international painters.
In the 19th century, landscape painting stood as both popular and respected—a staple of the art world. Then came the First World War. An event so brutal that it upended every aspect of society. The war reintroduced narrative into landscapes. Artists painted not only battle scenes but also landscapes scarred by conflict. Far from the old portrayals of heroism and patriotism, these new works reveal suffering, devastation, and the excesses of human behavior.
After the war, the healing begins. Artists such as Piet Mondrian and Nicolas de Staël seek to reclaim reality and tame the landscape. Others face reality head-on, notably through photography, venturing out to encounter these new landscapes and the people who inhabit them.
Some artists look to the imaginary and to dreams. Utopian landscapes, surreal or symbolic vistas, lost paradises... They are in pursuit of beauty. Their works tell of their dreams and hopes, revealing the realities they seek to escape and the beliefs that drive them.
Finally, many artists are also questioning the place of humanity in these landscapes, the impact humans have on nature, and what will remain of us in the centuries to come. Past, present and future: what stories are visible in the same landscape? Which stories will endure?
These landscapes bear witness to modern history. Artists chose this format to portray their country, their home, their people. They depict destruction and rebuilding, nature, the nostalgia for what once was, and questions about what will come. The work of these artists has been shaped by the major events and profound changes that have upended the world since 1890. Through this exhibition, the Marmottan Monet Museum seeks to showcase the full power that landscape art can convey.
The exhibition route brings together major artists who are rarely paired in shows: we admire the work of Pierre Bonnard, Claude Monet, Félix Vallotton, Caroline Bachmann, Edvard Munch, Walker Evans, Anna-Eva Bergman, Alex Katz, Nikita Kadan, John Vachon, Chaïm Soutine, Henri Matisse...
This exhibition stands apart from the Marmottan Monet Museum's usual lineup. You'll find modern and contemporary paintings, photographs and sculptures in styles as varied as Impressionism to abstraction, including Expressionism or figurative art.
From the outset, the exhibition's theme may seem rather somber.
We begin the journey with images of war, desolation, despair and misery.
Little by little, the artists develop this art of landscape, bringing back life, hope, and wonder.
However, 20th-century art remains heavily marked by the tragic events of the century.
The exhibition remains impressive: for art lovers, it's a real treasure trove. Great artists have been brought together for the occasion, masters of their craft. The display offers an interesting variety of works and styles, on a subject that’s broader and richer than it may seem.
Paintings, photographs, videos, sculptures: these stories can be told in many ways. Come discover them through the exhibition Histoires de paysages, starting this September.
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 24, 2026 to January 31, 2027
Location
Musée Marmottan-Monet
2, rue Louis Boilly
75116 Paris 16
Route planner
Prices
Tarif réduit: €9
Plein tarif: €14
Official website
www.marmottan.fr
