Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World

Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World is a unique exhibition showcasing the work of one of the most acclaimed artists of the 19th century and a leading figure of the Impressionist movement in France.

Caillebotte stood apart from his Impressionist peers, choosing to depict the intimate world of family, friends, fellow sportsmen, and everyday Parisians rather than the fashionable scenes of modern life. This major exhibition, which opened at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris in October 2024, brings together over 120 works—paintings, drawings, photographs, and ephemera—from throughout his career. Alongside well-known masterpieces like Floor Scrapers (Musée d’Orsay) and Paris Street; Rainy Day (Art Institute of Chicago), the show highlights lesser-known but significant works such as Boating Party (Musée d’Orsay) and The Bezique Game (Louvre Abu Dhabi), as well as rarely seen pieces from private collections. Together, these works reveal a deeply personal and distinctive vision of Paris, offering a fresh perspective on Caillebotte as both a singular Impressionist and a complex, multifaceted artist.

Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World is organized by the Art Institute of Chicago, the musée d’Orsay in Paris, and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibition is curated by Gloria Groom, chair and Winton Green Curator, Painting and Sculpture of Europe, The Art Institute of Chicago; Scott Allan, curator of paintings, The J. Paul Getty Museum; and Paul Perrin, curator and head of conservation and collections, Musée d’Orsay.