Posted on 10 September 2025:
FRENCH IMPRESSIONISM | EXHIBITION AT NGV | MELBOURNE | 6 JUNE- 5 OCTOBER 2025
French Impressionism Shines in Melbourne: A Masterpiece Exhibition at NGV
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International), Melbourne, Australia, hosted the breathtaking French Impressionism exhibition from June 6 to October 5, 2025.
As part of the prestigious Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® program, this landmark event brought over 100 iconic works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston—one of the world’s most celebrated art institutions.
Visitors were transported into the golden age of Impressionism, encountering the poetic brushstrokes of Claude Monet, the luminous scenes of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and the intimate moments captured by Edgar Degas. The exhibition also honored the pioneering spirit of Mary Cassatt and Berthe Morisot, whose contributions helped shape the movement’s legacy. Each canvas offered a window into 19th-century France, where light danced, shadows whispered, and everyday life became eternal.
Set within the elegant halls of NGV, this exhibition was more than a visual feast—it was a cultural dialogue between continents, a celebration of artistic innovation, and a rare opportunity for Australians to experience the soul of French Impressionism up close.
French Impressionism: A Radiant Journey Through Artistic Revolution
In a dazzling celebration of light, color, and rebellion, French Impressionism—a landmark exhibition developed by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in collaboration with the National Gallery of Victoria—unfolds the story of a movement that forever changed the canvas of art history. Featuring over 100 masterworks, the exhibition showcases the brilliance of Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, and other trailblazers like Camille Pissarro, Édouard Manet, Paul Signac and Alfred Sisley.
These artists, once considered radicals, dared to defy tradition and capture fleeting moments with bold brushstrokes and luminous palettes. The exhibition traces their evolution from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism, offering a rare glimpse into the heart of 19th-century France—a time when art broke free from convention and began to breathe.
Born in 19th-century Paris, Impressionism broke free from tradition with bold brushstrokes, shifting light, and everyday scenes. Artists captured fleeting moments and movement, offering a fresh, emotional lens on the world. Their independent exhibitions in the 1870s and 1880s sparked a revolution that redefined modern art.
A Dream in Brushstrokes: K. G Narendrababu on French Impressionism in Melbourne
Renowned artist K. G Narendrababu described his visit to the French Impressionism exhibition in Melbourne as stepping into a living dream.
Immersed in the luminous world of Monet, Renoir and Degas, he found himself lost in a journey where time stood still and art spoke in whispers of light.
“Superb, excellent, beyond words,” he reflected, praising the meticulous presentation and emotional depth of each masterpiece.
“Stepping into the French Impressionism exhibition in Melbourne was like entering a living dream—each brushstroke whispered timeless beauty. I forgot the world outside; it was art in its purest, most sublime form.” — K. G Narendrababu, internationally acclaimed artist.
For Narendrababu, it wasn’t just an exhibition—it was one of the most profound artistic experiences of his life.
Images: K.G Narendrababu
