France in the Time of Manet and Morisot

France in the Time of Manet and Morisot is a photography exhibition that explores the profound transformations of 19th-century France, at the moment when Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot were living and working in Paris, then the artistic capital of Europe.

Through a selection of works drawn from the museum’s collections, the exhibition shows how photography, still a new medium at the time, documented the country’s modernization, from urban expansion and industrial growth to major architectural and infrastructure projects. Photographers such as Charles Marville and Édouard-Denis Baldus offer a unique visual record of a nation in transition.

The exhibition also highlights the rise of photographic portraiture and celebrity culture, revealing writers, artists, and cultural figures of the era while tracing the emergence of a broader public eager for images.

Conceived in dialogue with Manet & Morisot, on view from March 29 through July 5, 2026, this exhibition provides essential insight into the visual and social context that shaped modern art.