The Middletown Arts Center is thrilled to present the film capturing the moment that changed art forever, Dawn of Impressionism: Paris 1874. Exhibition On Screen’s remarkable film, directed by Ali Ray and produced by Phil Grabsky, immerses the viewer in the vibrant Parisian art scene of the 1870s that birthed the world’s favorite art movement. The film investigates the origins of Impressionism and the fascinating story behind them with a cinematic look at the stunning Paris 1874 Impressionism exhibition organized by the Musée d’Orsay and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, on display through January 2025.

ABOUT DAWN OF IMPRESSIONISM: PARIS 1874 BY EXHIBITION ON SCREEN
Told uniquely through the words of those who witnessed the birth of Impressionism - the artists, their contemporaries, art critics, writers and commentators of the time - the film reveals the political and social shifts which sparked their new approach to art. It reexamines the moment in history which changed art forever thanks to pioneering artists such as Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne and highlights the crucial contributions of women artists to the Impressionist movement showcasing celebrated works by Mary Cassatt and Berthe Morisot. The Impressionists are the most popular group in art history – millions flock yearly to marvel at their masterpieces. But, to begin with, they were scorned, penniless and ridiculed mercilessly by critics and the people of Paris for their new style.

Yet these outsiders went on to become the iconic founders of the world’s favorite art movement. Who were the maverick personalities that wielded their brushes in such a radical and provocative way? What led to them finally breaking free of the rules to hold their own radical exhibition on April 15, 1874, which has since taken on legendary status as the birth of the French art movement. The film includes groundbreaking works from Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Édouard Manet, Henri Fantin-Latour, Eugène Boudin, Frédéric Bazille, Étienne-Prosper Berne-Bellecour and Auguste Lançon.

Tickets are $15 for the public and $10 for MAC Members. Purchase tickets online at middletownarts.org, by phone at 732.706.4100 or at the MAC Box Office. The Middletown Arts Center is located at 36 Church Street in Middletown, NJ (next to the Middletown train station). Parking is available onsite with additional free parking available in station metered lot.