The Paris Postcard: A Dazzling Array of New Exhibitions

le 10 October 2025

With the onset of October, Paris awakens to the crisp embrace of autumn—the leaves turning golden, the air turning cooler, and the city’s museums unveiling a dazzling array of new exhibitions. As the cultural season kicks into high gear, visitors can escape the brisk winds outdoors and immerse themselves in fresh perspectives on art, history, and innovation. These captivating shows provide the ideal opportunity to step inside, warm up amid renewed galleries, and explore the latest masterpieces from neoclassical giants to contemporary visionaries.

At the Musée du Louvre, the major retrospective Jacques-Louis David continues through January 26, 2026. Marking the bicentennial of the neoclassical master’s death, this exhibition brings together his revolutionary portraits, grand historical scenes, and works that span the turmoil of the French Revolution and Napoleonic era. It’s a powerful reminder of how art intertwined with politics—don’t miss the chance to see these rarely gathered pieces in the Hall Napoléon.

Over at the Musée de l’Orangerie, Berthe Weill: Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-Garde runs until January 26, 2026. This homage spotlights the pioneering gallerist who championed early Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, and other trailblazers of modernism when few others would. With over 100 works on display, it’s a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes world of early 20th-century art—perfect for anyone who loves the stories behind the paintings.

The Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection presents Minimal, an immersive exploration of minimalist art through January 19, 2026. Featuring over 100 works by more than 40 artists—from Dan Flavin and Donald Judd to global voices influenced by the movement—this show strips art back to essentials: pure forms, raw materials, and direct sensory experience. The circular architecture of the venue makes it feel even more contemplative.

The Musée Jacquemart-André hosts Georges de La Tour: Entre ombre et lumière, extended through February 22, 2026. This intimate retrospective celebrates the 17th-century master’s mastery of chiaroscuro—dramatic light and shadow in candlelit scenes of quiet spirituality and everyday life. In the elegant mansion setting, it feels almost like stepping into one of his paintings.

And if you’re craving something luminous and modern, catch John Singer Sargent: The Paris Years at the Musée d’Orsay, closing January 11, 2026. This beautiful showcase traces the American artist’s early triumphs in Parisian society through elegant portraits and vivid scenes—his brushwork glows under the museum’s natural light.

These exhibitions offer a rich mix of history, innovation, and quiet beauty—ideal for the fall season. Throw on a sweater, grab a café, and let Paris’s museums warm your soul!

#ICYMI

A Tribute to Catharine Hamilton: A Chicago Philanthropist With a Deep Connection to Versailles features a remarkable Chicago philanthropist and Francophile who founded the American Friends of Versailles (AFV). Sadly, Catharine passed away today (October 7, 2025), leaving behind a legacy of elegance, generosity, and cultural diplomacy that spanned continents.

For a bit of nostalgia, let’s look back at my August 2009 post on the restoration of the Palace of Versailles.

Enjoy the weekend!

xoxo, Jeannine