The Salon des Refusés of 1863 was an art exhibition in Paris, France, that received much attention and notoriety due to the controversy within the French art world. The exhibition was a response to the official Paris Salon, which had become too restrictive in what it accepted. The Salon des Refusés provided an opportunity for rejected artists to show their work and gain recognition for their talent.
The Parisian Salons were established in 1667 and had become the most important annual art exhibitions in France. They were organized by the Académie des Beaux-Arts, a powerful society of artists and academics who determined who could exhibit their work. The criteria for acceptance was very strict, and as a result, many talented artists were excluded from exhibiting their work.
In 1863, Emperor Napoleon III decided to give these rejected artists an opportunity to display their works. He authorized the opening of a special exhibition called the Salon des Refusés (“Exhibition of Rejects”). This exhibition featured works by Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Cézanne, Degas and other Impressionists who had been previously rejected by the Salon.
The salon
The Salon des Refusés immediately caused controversy among French art critics. It was seen as a challenge to academic artistic traditions and its success made it clear that contemporary art had gained public appeal. Despite its initial resistance from established artistic circles, it has since become recognized as one of the most significant events in the history of modern art.
Significance
The significance of this event lies in its demonstration that modern art is capable of gaining public appeal. It showed that contemporary art could become accepted despite its rejection by traditionalists. By providing an opportunity for artists to display their work outside of traditional academic norms, it helped pave the way for greater freedom in artistic expression.
Conclusion:
The Salon des Refusés of 1863 is a significant event in the history of art because it demonstrated that modern art can gain public appeal despite its rejection by traditionalists. It opened up new avenues for artistic expression and provided an opportunity for rejected artists to showcase their talents. As such, it remains an important milestone in the development of contemporary art.