Introduction
The Orsay Museum was founded in December 1986, and possesses collection of works created between 1848 and 1914. When the museum collection is classified in chronological order, the OrsayMuseum places between the Louvre Museum and the French national modern art museum,Centre Pompidou. It widely encompasses paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, drawings, photography and architectural drawings and assists the general public to genuinely comprehend the collection in historical and cultural contexts of the era; an innovative attempt as an art museum at the time.
The collection of the OrsayMuseum accommodates the 19th century period of France. During the 19th century, France received substantial attention from Europe and the world. As the industry revolutionized, social climate changed and the public viewed art differently from before. Hence, the ways of producing and assessing art essentially changed. Inevitably, the changes did not occur smoothly and raised conflicts. Endless disputes around works of art were a distinctive characteristic of the 19th century art.
The exhibition was curated to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the OrsayMuseum. The exhibition contains selectively chosen iconic masterpieces from the Orsay Museum collection, presenting the most fruitful half centuryof Western art, and introduces major artistic movements of art history.