Orsay Museum
“I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say ‘he feels deeply, he feels tenderly’.”
Vincent van Gogh
The Orsay Museum is one of the most exciting visits one can do in Paris. It focuses on French art from 1848 to 1914 and the collection is stored in a 1900’s train station. The museum let visitors discover how the transition from classical to modern art took place, and is a delight to explore.
Duration of the visit: 2:30 hours
Recommended time: early in the morning or around 15:00
Group size: 6 people maximum
About the tour
We will start by discovering the history of the building and the museum, taking a general look of the space and seeing old photographs. Then we will start with the art collection analyzing the context in early XIX century in order to understand the official taste and what the public of the time expected from art.
Early modern art starts with the Realist Movement, which is key in the birth of the French Impressionist Movement. I will show you the XIX century artistic genealogy starting with Millet and Courbet, transitioning to Manet, who influenced Manet, Renoir et Degas, and the visit will end with Vincent van Gogh.
Seeing art is not the same as knowing art. Let yourself be carried away on this visit to the Orsay and learn while enjoying yourself, focusing your attention on the beauty of the works instead of on the museum map. Come back from Paris with a memory that will last forever.
