150 Years of Impressionism – The Netherlands Sees the Light

In 1874, a group of artists held their first groundbreaking exhibition in Paris. With their vibrant, loose brushwork and focus on capturing fleeting moments of light and colour, the Impressionists revolutionised the art world. Critics initially had little enthusiasm for them, and Dutch museums and art collectors were slow to embrace this new style. But today, national collections in the Netherlands boast many French Impressionist works, united for the first time in this exhibition catalogue. How did each work arrive here, and who played a pivotal role in that process? Visionary private collectors were instrumental in securing the masterpieces that now form part of Dutch national heritage.