Paris 1874: Inventer l'Impressionnisme. Occident dating from the 11th or

dating from the 11th or 12th century

of purely local manufacture

The first materials were organic – primarily shells and animal teeth

Speech delivered on December 2 and 9

their history

Paris 1874: Inventer l'Impressionnisme. Occident dating from the 11th or150 years ago, on April 15, 1874, the first Impressionist exhibition opened in Paris. To celebrate this anniversary, the Muse d'Orsay is presenting some 130 works, and taking a fresh look at this key date, considered the launching pad for the avant garde. "Hungry for independence," Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Pissarro, Sisley, and Czanne decided to break the rules by organizing their own exhibitions, outside of official channels: Impressionism was