July 30, 2004
By Chandrea Gerber
AFTER returning from its first international exhibition, in Italy, the Johannesburg Art Gallery's impressive collection of late 19th and 20th century French works are set for a grand exhibit from 1 August to 5 September.
The French impressionist and post-impressionist works acquired mainly during the gallery's formative years, between 1908 and 1914, form part of the gallery's permanent foundation collection.
Works in the 'From Corot to Monet: Impressionists and Post-Impressionists from the Johannesburg Art Gallery' exhibition include renowned impressionists Degas, Monet, Pissarro and Sisley, as well as post-Impressionists Cezanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh.
The exhibition will also display the works of Impressionist forerunners Bonnard, Boudin, Corot, Courbet, Fantin-Latour, Delacroix and Jongkind, and include works from the Barbizon School, characterised by Daubigny, Diaz, and Dupre. Neo-impressionists on view include Signac, and Nabis: Denis, Rodin and Vuillard.
This rich collection of artworks are in a variety of mediums, depicting the interest of innovative French artists in everyday and often ordinary subject matter. The artists often painted 'en plein air' - in the open air - an innovation that enabled artists to capture the innate movement, life and colour inherent in most natural forms found outdoors, linking nature and culture in a new poetic harmony.
To clarify the complexities of such a vast collection a lavishly illustrated and researched 111-page colour hardback catalogue accompanies the exhibition.
The Italian exhibition, 'Da Corot a Monet: Opere Impressioniste e Post-Impressioniste dalla Johannesburg Art Gallery' ran between 11 October 2003 and 15 February 2004, and marked not only the first time that the Johannesburg Art Gallery's French collection was exhibited outside South Africa, but also the first time so many artworks were loaned by the gallery to an overseas museum.
'From Corot to Monet: Impressionists and Post- Impressionists from the Johannesburg Art Gallery' will be opened by the ambassador to the delegation of the European Commission to South Africa, Michael Lake, at noon on 1 August.
The Johannesburg Art Gallery, situated on the corner of King George and Klein Street, Joubert Park, is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. For more exhibition information, e-mail pitsoch@joburg.org.za, or for guided tours call 011 725 3130.
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