Museum d’Orsay opened after reconstruction Automatic translate

Orsay Museum (Musée d’Orsay) reopened in Paris on October 20. Guy Cogeval, its director, perceives the renewal of the museum as Orsay’s rebirth. Kogewal emphasized that the world-famous collection of masterpieces of impressionists and post-impressionists will be presented in a completely different way. This exposition was seen in a new light and appreciated by art critics who visited the reconstructed museum.

For the reconstruction of the exhibition halls, where the works of expressionists are exhibited, about 8 million euros were spent. The two-year restoration of the museum cost 20 million euros. The halls, decorated in a new way, filled with an abundance of light and color, look great masterpieces.

After the reconstruction, the museum got rid of dead ends and narrow passages, whitewashed walls and the light that penetrated the main hall through a ceiling constructed of glass. Now a modern interior has been created in Orsay: the floors and walls are painted, the impressionist gallery, which is the heart of the museum, is equipped with artificial lighting, which creates, according to Guy Kogeval, an intimate atmosphere.

Photo: Sophie Boegly / The New York Times

Kogewal noted the need to take into account the fact that the impressionist paintings were not created for the museum, but were intended to decorate the interior of the house. In this regard, the director remembered that at the very beginning of his activity in this post, no one could have thought that he would be allowed to reconstruct the historical building. However, he constantly believed in success. Now the exhibition space looks completely different and looks great.

Certainly, impressionist artists would like Gui Kogewal’s innovative ideas, and, above all, a new lighting system would have liked, not without reason, the famous impressionist Claude Monet emphasized that light is the main character of each picture.

Photo: Sophie Boegly / The New York Times

Back in 2008, the Orsay Museum decided not to exhibit its collections on white walls. This mod was introduced by the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA). Guy Kogewal is sure that the background of the white walls is suitable only for works of art of the twentieth century and the present, and for another painting it is like death.

The opening of the updated museum, gallery of impressionists and post-impressionists, took place on the day of the 25th anniversary of Orsay. Also opened a new cafe, designed by architects from Brazil Fernando and Umberto Campana (Fernando Campana, Humberto Campana).

The historical building of the museum, located on the banks of the Seine, opposite the beautiful Tuileries Gardens, was built for the train station according to the project of architect Victor Laloux. Its opening took place in 1900 during the World Exhibition in Paris. During the opening of the station, Edouard Detaille, a French artist, uttered prophetic words, noting that the station building is so beautiful that it is associated with the Museum of Fine Arts.

By 1939, the building of the railway station turned out to be obsolete: short platforms were not able to service the trains. In the 70s of the last century, the idea was born to create an art museum in this magnificent building, which was opened in 1986.

About three million people visit Orsay annually, which has a huge collection of works by impressionists and post-impressionists. The masterpieces of French artists are exhibited here: 86 paintings by Monet, 34 - Mans, 43 works by Degas, 46 works by Sisley, 56 paintings by Cezanne, 81 - Renoir, 24 - Van Gogh and 24 - Gauguin. This rich collection attracts connoisseurs of painting around the world.

Architect Dominique Brard, along with other renovations of the building, told The Guardian that negotiations had been held with the authorities for more than six months to allow them to update some parts of the building. After the reconstruction, the staff felt as if they were seeing the museum’s collection for the first time. Very soon, visitors to Orsay will be able to experience such emotions.