Must-See Paris Art Museums for Art History Buffs

If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast. — Ernest Hemingway

Paris is a city that embraces all kinds of whimsical ideas, providing the most fertile soil for artistic talent. It has always nurtured great art, exuding an enchanting charm everywhere. Today, let's follow four thunderous names in art history and encounter romantic Paris on canvas. Let's go!

1840–1926

Musée de l'Orangerie: €9.00

In 19th-century Paris, an Impressionist storm was brewing that would overturn art history, and Monet was at the center of it. Represented by Monet, the new school of painters added 'time' as a fourth dimension to classical art. They took their painting tools outdoors, capturing the ever-changing light and shadows under the sun. This entirely new style clashed with the mainstream classical painting of the time. In 1874, a group of young painters held an exhibition on Boulevard des Capucines in Paris. Monet's 'Impression, Sunrise' made its public debut there, drawing sarcasm from critics and was dubbed 'Impressionism.' This unintentional mockery inadvertently became the name of the new painting movement, Impressionism.

In 1918, the already renowned Monet accepted a commission from the French president. In his final years, he created a masterpiece that summarized his life’s achievements, donating it to the French government—today’s 'Water Lilies' at the Musée de l'Orangerie. The Musée de l'Orangerie is located in the picturesque Tuileries Gardens by the Seine. Here, Monet’s massive panoramic 'Water Lilies' cycle creates an incredibly serene Monet garden, embodying his entire faith in art and life, and his final love for France and Paris. If you are a big fan of Monet, visit the Musée de l'Orangerie and stand before the 'Water Lilies.' You will feel how the 74-year-old Monet, in his last twelve years, stood here, stroke by stroke, sometimes powerful, sometimes gentle, painting the light and shadows of nature.

1881–1973

Montmartre Walking Tour: €29.00

Picasso Museum: €14.00

Picasso was undoubtedly a cross-era artist, from his early 'Blue Period' and 'Rose Period' to later 'Cubism' and 'Surrealism.' For him, art had no peak, only constant self-transcendence. Paris was Picasso's spiritual home. After this young Spaniard arrived in 1900 at age 19, he immersed himself wholeheartedly in this romantic capital, spending most of his life and creative years there. Picasso’s connection with Paris began in Montmartre. Montmartre is located in northern Paris, literally meaning 'hill.' It is a high-altitude area, so the Seine River cannot flow up to it. From the mid-19th to the early 20th century, it was known as Paris’s 'most artistic corner.' It was a place of prostitutes, drunkards, and addicts—chaotic and impoverished. But for penniless young people with only artistic ideals, there were 'cheap apartments' and like-minded companions, making it a creative paradise. Van Gogh, Degas, Modigliani, and Renoir all left their footprints here. Picasso, newly arrived and barely speaking French, quickly blended in with the artistic youth, wearing eccentric clothes, getting drunk in bars, and paying with his paintings. His lifestyle was wildly dissipated, yet gradually he formed his own personal style. His early masterpiece 'Les Demoiselles d’Avignon' was born here. Today’s Montmartre has changed beyond recognition. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica and the Wall of Love attract travelers from all over the world to check in. Wandering alone in the alleys, closing your eyes, you can almost still hear the songs drifting from the Moulin Rouge and the youthful laughter and chatter of artists, accompanied by the clinking of glasses.

There are four Picasso museums in the world, but the one in Paris is not to be missed. It houses over 5,000 works, including archives and various masterpieces. As the museum director says, every piece in the collection has its own unique story, which is precisely the value of the museum’s collection: allowing visitors to encounter each work that once moved Picasso.

1904–1989

Dalí Museum: €12.00

‘The only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad,’ said Surrealist artist Dalí, who sported his iconic upturned mustache. His appearance had a touch of absurd surrealism that was unforgettable, much like the whimsical ideas within. Some say Dalí’s existence proves the saying ‘Life is about hustle.’ He hung lobsters outside his window, gave a speech in a deep-sea diving suit that almost suffocated him, arrived at a lecture in a cauliflower-decorated Rolls-Royce, and brought a flock of sheep to his hotel suite... He played with the world through Surrealism and also left his mark in Paris. Between 1926 and 1929, Dalí visited Paris twice. During this time, he not only met Picasso but also got to know the only lifelong partner and muse of his life—Gala. Today, the Dalí Museum in Montmartre houses his paintings, sculptures, videos, and other works, offering a deep insight into his artistic life.

1887–1968

Centre Pompidou: €14.00

In art history, Duchamp is a thunderous awakening, a pioneer of 20th-century experimental art, and one of the founders of Dadaism and Surrealism. Duchamp studied painting in Paris in his early years; Paris was his artistic enlightenment. Between 1906 and 1912, in just six years, he experimented with various styles including Impressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism, and became a member of the Paris avant-garde artist salons. Frequent art salons and weekend artists’ gatherings at his brother’s house opened a garden path for Duchamp toward artistic avant-garde. In 1917, Duchamp anonymously submitted a men’s urinal entitled 'Fountain' to the New York Society of Independent Artists for exhibition. After it was predictably rejected, Duchamp simply placed it in a museum. This epoch-making 'artwork' gradually moved from an incomprehensible fringe art form into the mainstream of contemporary art. People were drawn by the sharp question it raised: 'What exactly is art?' Today, this landmark piece is one of the star exhibits at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The Centre Pompidou stands out among the surrounding traditional buildings like a rebellious yuppie among aristocrats, existing to overturn conventions. The art on display here includes Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism, with a collection of over 50,000 works (including oil paintings, sculptures, drawings, and photographs).

Rather than saying Paris is a city that creates art, it’s better to say Paris is art itself. Art hasn’t withered with the departure of masters; today’s Paris still nurtures new art and the next waves of revolutionaries. Now, follow Go 旅城 and turn this history into passion and inspiration to carry on the 'Parisian spirit' even further.

Itinerary Table of Contents: 1. Claude Monet, 2. Pablo Picasso, 3. Salvador Dalí, 4. Marcel Duchamp. Travel Information, Hotel Index, Guide Index, Flight Ticket Index, Website Navigation, Travel Index, Cruise Index, Business Travel Index, Affiliate Cooperation, Distribution Alliance, Friendship Link, Corporate Gift Card Purchase, Insurance Agent, Agent Cooperation, Hotel Franchise, Destination and Scenic Spot Cooperation, More Affiliate Cooperation. About Trip.com, Trip.com Hot Topics, Contact Us, Careers, User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Business License, Security Center, Trip.com Content Center, Intellectual Property, Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure.