A major epicenter of the Western art world since the Renaissance, the capital city of France has long served as the background and inspiration for artistic expression. Paris is home to some of the world’s largest and most prestigious museums, salons and art organizations including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay. Paris is also the birthplace of many important systems of art education, known as Académie, which fostered generations of working artists. Known throughout the world as the “City of Art,” the strong community of artists and institutions in Paris was central to the conceptualization and success of many important …
A major epicenter of the Western art world since the Renaissance, the capital city of France has long served as the background and inspiration for artistic expression. Paris is home to some of the world’s largest and most prestigious museums, salons and art organizations including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay. Paris is also the birthplace of many important systems of art education, known as Académie, which fostered generations of working artists. Known throughout the world as the “City of Art,” the strong community of artists and institutions in Paris was central to the conceptualization and success of many important art movements, including Impressionism, Symbolism, Art Nouveau, Neo-Impressionism, Divisionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Art Deco and Abstract Art. Iconic artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, Henry Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, and many others were all deeply associated with Paris at some time in their careers. Paris continues to represent an innovative and important force within the art world, as evidenced by the prestigious Foire Internationale d'art Contemporain (FIAC) fair, and the number of contemporary artists, including Adel Abdessemed, Sophie Calle, and Pierre Huyghe, who call the “City of Lights” home.
