150 years Impressionists at Musée d’Orsay Immersive VR Experience. Story by Eleonora de Gray, Editor-in-Chief of RUNWAY MAGAZINE. Photo Courtesy: Musée d’Orsay / EXCURIO / GEDEON Experiences.
On the evening of April 15, 1874, a group of avant-garde painters, including Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, and Paul Cézanne, boldly presented their work in an independent exhibition that would mark the birth of the Impressionism movement. This historic event, breaking away from the confines of conventional art circuits, took place in the studio of the famed photographer Nadar, located on Boulevard des Capucines in Paris.
Fast forward 150 years, and the Musée d’Orsay commemorates this pivotal moment with an extraordinary exhibition and an unprecedented immersive virtual reality (VR) experience titled “Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874.”
Exhibition: “Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism”
The Musée d’Orsay’s major exhibition, “Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism,” running from March 26 to July 14, 2024, showcases approximately 130 works, providing a fresh perspective on this crucial period in art history. Among the highlights is the Musée d’Orsay’s recent acquisition: a captivating genre scene by Cabaillot-Lassalle that at first glance appears ordinary but reveals a complex collaboration among seven painters, each contributing miniature reproductions of their works displayed at the official Salon of 1874. This exhibit not only showcases the artistic brilliance of the time but also emphasizes the collaborative essence of the Impressionist movement.
The VR Experience: “Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874”
Parallel to this retrospective, from March 26 to August 11, 2024, visitors have the unique opportunity to step into the past with “Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874.” This VR journey is an immersive expedition into the world of the first Impressionist exhibition. It’s a narrative and immersive echo to the paintings themselves, designed to transport up to 100 visitors simultaneously back to Paris, 1874, allowing them to witness the event’s inauguration and meet the iconic figures behind these groundbreaking works.
A Collective Immersive Experience
This 50 min immersive experience commences in front of Nadar’s studio, under the glow of a neon gas sign, setting the scene for a journey back to the first Impressionist exhibition. The meticulously researched and scientifically directed endeavor, under the auspices of the Musée d’Orsay, recreates the studio and exhibition with unprecedented accuracy. Visitors, equipped with VR headsets, will find themselves in a reconstructed version of the first Impressionist exhibition, wandering among the likes of Monet, Renoir, and Degas, and even stepping outside to explore the places that sparked the Impressionist movement.
Support and Partnerships
Coproduction: Excurio Immersive Expeditions in VR – GEDEON Experiences – Musée d’Orsay
On an original idea and unprecedented historical reconstructions of GEDEON Experiences
Direction scientifique : Sylvie PATRY, Anne ROBBINS
Excurio producers: Emmanuel GUERRIERO, Fabien BARATI, Catherine SEYS
Producers GEDEON Experiences: Stéphane MILLIERE, Agnes GARAUDEL
Creative Director: Pierre GABLE
Auteurs : Emmanuelle PITON, Pierre GABLE
Composer: Vincent Jacq
An EXCURIO – GEDEON Experiences – Musée d’Orsay coproduction
Based on an original idea and original historical reconstructions by GEDEON Experiences;
Running time: 1h including 45 min of wandering virtual reality
In conjunction with the exhibition “Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism” exhibition;
Scientific direction:
Sylvie Patry, curator of the exhibition “Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism” exhibition and General Curator of Cultural Heritage;
Anne Robbins, curator of the exhibition “Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism” and Curator of Painting at the Musée d’Orsay;
Assisted by :
Caroline Gaillard, assistant curator at the Musée d’Orsay ;
Estelle Bégué, documentary researcher, Musée d’Orsay.
In partnership with
les Voyages Impressionnistes
Operation supported by Visit Paris Region, Normandie Tourisme and the French government – Fonds national d’aménagement et de développement du territoire.
A Journey Through Art and Time – Personal Experience
I was not simply entering a museum; I was stepping into a portal that would transport me 150 years back to the heart of the Impressionist movement. The exhibition, “Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874,” was not just an exhibit; it was an invitation to live a moment in history, to walk alongside the artists of Impressionism as if I were one of their contemporaries.
Equipped with a virtual reality headset powered by Unity technology, I was immediately engulfed in the sights and sounds of 19th-century Paris. The experience was non-interactive in the traditional sense, but it felt profoundly personal. As I walked through the recreated studio of Nadar on Boulevard des Capucines, where the first Impressionist exhibition took place, I was guided by a lady—a friend of the painters. Her voice, warm and familiar, narrated the scenes unfolding around me.
One by one, I met the masters of Impressionism. Monet spoke passionately about the changing light over the water lilies at Giverny. Renoir, with a sparkle in his eye, recounted days spent capturing the laughter and dance of Parisian life. Degas discussed his fascination with movement, his sketches of dancers seeming to leap and twirl around the room. And there was Morisot, her gentle voice sharing the struggle and triumph of a woman in the male-dominated art world.
What struck me most was not just the vividness of the experience but how it captured the essence of Impressionism. It was as if I could see the brushstrokes in the air, feel the urgency and bravery of these artists who dared to see the world differently. The environment was alive with details—birds fluttering at the windows, the rustle of leaves, and the chatter of Parisian life—all rendered in stunning 360-degree animations that made history breathe around me.
The beauty of this VR experience lay in its ability to make me feel like an insider. I wasn’t just observing; I was part of the story. Listening to the dialogues, it felt as though the artists were speaking directly to me, sharing secrets of their inspirations and fears. Each story added a layer of depth to my understanding of their works, which I could see hanging on the walls around me in virtual reproduction.
As the experience drew to a close, the night sky above Nadar’s studio lit up with fireworks—a brilliant display of light and color that seemed to echo the explosion of creativity that Impressionism brought to the world. The fireworks felt like a celebration of art’s enduring power to transform and evoke emotion.
Reflections
Leaving the Musée d’Orsay, I carried with me not just memories of a beautifully crafted exhibition but a profound connection to the Impressionist era. I had walked through history, talked with its creators, and seen the world through their fresh, revolutionary eyes. The experience reminded me why Impressionism remains one of the most beloved and influential movements in art history—its spirit continues to inspire and challenge us to see beauty in the fleeting moments of life.
“Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874” is more than an exhibition; it is a bridge to the past, beautifully illustrating the intersections of art, technology, and history. It is an experience I would recommend to anyone who wishes to understand not just Impressionism, but the enduring human desire to capture the essence of the moment.
