Stories of Landscapes. From Monet to Hockney (1893-2026)

In 2026, the year marking the centenary of Claude Monet’s death, the Musée Marmottan Monet is dedicating an exhibition to one of the most prolific subjects in the history of art: the landscape. Entitled ‘Stories of Landscapes’, the exhibition invites visitors to explore how artists over the centuries, from the master Claude Monet to the British artist David Hockney (1937–2026), have transformed nature into a space for creation, emotion and invention. Through major works, the landscape emerges as much more than mere scenery: it is a sensitive testament to the changing ways in which we view the world. Behind every horizon, every garden and every luminous expanse lies a way of inhabiting one’s era.

From Monet to Hockney: the story of artistic freedom

At the heart of the exhibition, Monet’s legacy engages in a dialogue with that of artists who, following in his footsteps, continued to explore the landscape. Atmospheric variations, shifting light and colour effects all become means of reinventing the representation of reality. Gradually, the landscape breaks free from its descriptive function to become a realm of experimentation. This artistic journey reveals how each generation reinterprets nature, through a blend of careful observation, personal memory and formal exploration.

An invitation to see things differently

By bringing together works from different periods and artistic sensibilities, the exhibition highlights the extraordinary vitality of a genre long considered secondary. The connections that emerge between the artists invite visitors to slow down their gaze and rediscover the richness of landscapes, whether real or imagined. The exhibition also pays tribute to the lasting influence of Monet, whose vision continues to inspire contemporary artists. A sensory journey through art history that reminds us just how much the landscape remains a mirror of our relationship with the world.