Relive the First Impressionist Exhibition in 1874 Paris

What: “Tonight with the Impressionists: 1874 Paris,” a virtual reality experience of the first Impressionist exhibition.

Who: Produced by Excurio, Gedeon Experiences, and Musée d’Orsay

Where: Eclipso, New York City

My brother and I took another virtual reality trip, this time to 1874 Paris.¹ We crashed a world-famous exhibition that changed the course of art history and learned about French Impressionism directly from the artists. You know, a usual Saturday. If you like art, you’ll love this experience. And if you don’t…give it a try anyway, because at least you get to time travel to 19^th-century France.

19th Century Paris

Our VR journey began in the middle of a wide boulevard, with gorgeous buildings lining the streets. Horses pulled carriages to and fro, while pedestrians bustled between shops and cafes.

Rose, an art model and writer, oriented us to the beautiful city of Paris. She directed our attention to the ornate and majestic façade of the newly built opera house, Palais Garnier. She knew the real reason for our visit, however, and guided us across the street to the first Impressionist exhibition. A virtual horse almost ran us over, but we managed to survive our short walk through the 19^th-century city.

First Impressionist Exhibition

Rose led us to Nadar’s photography studio on the Boulevard des Capucines. This was where the French Impressionists held their first exhibition on April 15, 1874. In total, 30 artists presented about 175 works.

These artists were royally pissed at the Salon, the official art exhibition of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Held annually or biannually, a jury of snobs decided which paintings would make it on the walls for society to see. Each time, most of the Impressionists were shit out of luck. The Salon often rejected their works because they were different and new. Overall, their artwork was a step away from the academic painting popular at the time, which had realistic scenes of history, mythology, and religion.

Impressionists painted everyday people and life. Worst of all, they created landscapes! Gasp! To the snobs of the Salon, landscapes were the lowliest form of art. Furthermore, the Impressionists’ main goal was to capture a fleeting moment, a visual sensation, with color and light. They used loose brushstrokes to capture impressions of nature rather than faithfully mimic it. Therefore, their goals, subject matter, and techniques were an affront to the Salon’s ideals.

As an art history nerd, it was epic to travel back in time to this groundbreaking exhibition. As I walked through Nadar’s studio, it hit me that I was seeing now-famous Impressionist artworks displayed together, in the same building, for the first time. Because of virtual reality, I was able to relive this moment in history.

In addition to experiencing the artworks as they were originally displayed in 1874, my bro and I met several Impressionists. In attendance were Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Edgar Degas. The famous art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel was also there.

Close Examination of Impressionist Paintings

Each artist chose one of their artworks to discuss with us, up close and personal. Virtual reality dissolved the walls of Nadar’s studio as we ascended via platform into a void-like space. VR enlarged and displayed the selected painting before us in all its glory. Then we got an art history lesson right there, from the artist.

Cézanne showed us A Modern Olympia, Pissarro discussed Gelee Blanche (Hoarfrost), Degas showcased La Repasseuse, and Morisot told us the meaning behind The Cradle. The inclusion of Morisot, the only woman amongst the group, was inspiring. The Salon selected her works seven times, but she decided to throw her lot in with the Impressionists and participate in their exhibition.

Landscape painting of fields covered in hoarfrost, or frozen dew. A figure walks on the left. The painting is by Camille Pissarro, who showed it at the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874.

Painting of a woman looking at her baby in a cradle. Painted by Berthe Morisot, who displayed it at the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874.

Drawing of a woman ironing by Edgar Degas. The artwork was presented at the first Impressionist exhibition.

Painting of a Parisian woman in a blue dress. The painting is by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who displayed it at the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874.

Paul Cézanne's painting of a woman lying naked on a bed. She is attended to by a black maid. A clothed man sitting on a couch looks at her. The painting was presented at the first Impressionist exhibition.

1. Camille Pissarro, Gelee Blanche (Hoarfrost), 1873, oil on canvas, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France. 2. Berthe Morisot, The Cradle, 1872, oil on canvas, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France. 3. Edgar Degas, La Repasseuse, 1869, charcoal, white chalk and pastel on paper, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France. 4. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, La Parisienne, 1874, oil on canvas, National Museum Cardiff. 5. Paul Cézanne, A Modern Olympia, 1873-74, oil on canvas, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France. All images in the public domain.

The Events Behind the First Impressionist Exhibition

Throughout our journey, virtual reality transported us even further back in time to key moments leading up to the epic exhibition of 1874.

Our VR guide Rose brought us to the Paris Salon of 1867. We were immersed in rooms with canvases lining the walls, floor to ceiling. We passed by art models giggling over paintings of themselves naked. Yeah, baby!

More importantly, we witnessed a heartbreaking scene. Monet stood outside the doors of the Salon, asking a juror if they chose his painting. He pretended to be someone else to save himself from embarrassment if they rejected his work. The juror delivered the crushing news, prompting Monet to wander away, a sad figure in a gloomy afternoon, the rain washing over his disappointment.

Rose brought us to other integral moments in the burgeoning artistic movement, such as Bazille’s studio, where Emile Zola and Édouard Manet encouraged the Impressionists to keep on keeping on. It was here that the idea for their own show was born.

The Artworks Behind the First Impressionist Exhibition

Rose then took us to the fashionable La Grenouillère, a floating café on the riverbank of the Seine, near Paris. There we saw Monet and Renoir with their easels and paints, capturing impressions in real time.

The most beautiful moment of the whole experience is when we saw Monet painting Impression, Sunrise on a hotel balcony. The view of Le Havre’s harbor was breathtaking. The early morning mist created a veil over the scene, but the bright orange sun shone through, a beacon through the haze. My brother and I gasped and simply said, “Wow.” We then turned to Monet painting the beauty before our eyes, and my first thought was “yes, he captured it perfectly. He nailed it.” This virtual reality scene left me with a much deeper appreciation and understanding of Monet’s art.

Claude Monet's painting of Le Havre harbor at sunrise. The early morning mist creates a veil over the scene, with an orange sun rising in the distance. The painting was included in the first Impressionist exhibition. — Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872, oil on canvas, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France. Public domain.

Later, when the experience was over, my brother exclaimed, “I wish I could wake up to that view every day. Instead, I have my boring backyard.”

I retorted, “If I saw that every day from my balcony, I’d be so inspired. I’d probably be a freaking painter too.”

Goodbye, Paris

The experience ended with us climbing up wooden planks to the roof of Nadar’s studio. This and a previous moment at La Grenouillère were the only times we felt like we’d lose our balance and fall. We hopped over gaps in the wooden planks and promptly burst into laughter, realizing the alley wasn’t real and we were walking on the smooth floor of a Manhattan building. Once we were “up there” on the roof, we had a spectacular view of Paris.

Tonight with the Impressionists Logistics

Photograph of virtual reality space. People walk around with VR headsets on. — Eclipso Virtual Reality Immersive Area

Tonight with the Impressionists is located in Eclipso, at 555 West 57^th Street, New York, NY 10019.
My ticket for a Saturday was $44 plus tax. To buy your tickets, click here.
If you’re not in NYC, you can experience Tonight with the Impressionists in Atlanta, Georgia.
From start to finish, the experience is about 45 minutes. Wear comfortable shoes, because you’re walking the whole time.
Staff give you VR headsets and set you loose in a large immersive space. The headset provides instructions on navigating through the area, so you don’t bump into others or hit a wall. You won’t get separated from your group because they appear as blue avatars with their names over their heads.

Recommendation

Tonight with the Impressionists is an immersive art experience that is equal parts fun and educational. For those of you who “don’t get” French Impressionism, do this experience. I promise you will “get it” by the end. Hopefully, you’ll also have a new appreciation for this revolutionary artistic movement. Finally, you’ll also be able to brag that you went to the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874.

If you love how virtual reality intersects with history and want to try another experience, see my blog post, Horizon of Khufu: Explore the Great Pyramid of Giza in VR.