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Vincent Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Renoir, and Rodin. Musée d’Orsay is a must-visit destination for art lovers!
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Why Should You Visit Musée d’Orsay?
If you are visiting Paris, you’d know that there are two iconic museums you should not miss: the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. Situated right on the banks of Seine River, Musée d’Orsay houses an impressive collection of Impressionist art. Paintings by Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas are proudly displayed on the walls of this high-ceilinged building.
Visiting Musée d’Orsay (Hours, Transportation, Tips!)
After a fascinating visit to the Louvre, I immediately reserved my tickets for Musée d’Orsay! Designed by Victor Laloux and previously used as a railway station in the 1900s, its metal structures let in plenty of natural light and exudes its own charm. It is definitely a must-visit for art lovers in Paris!
I bought my tickets and reserved my timeslot on the museum’s official website. The full rate tickets are 16 EUR, but see if you can get a special rate based on your age or visiting time. Note that they open late on Thursdays! If you’d like to have a quieter moment (although it will never be truly quiet, really) there, consider visiting on those days.
Admission is also free every 1st Sunday of the month, but expect a crowd. Their opening hours are:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Sunday: 9:30 am – 6 pm
Thursday: 9:30 am – 9:45 pm (late opening)
Use the RER train to get to Musée d’Orsay station, or use the Métro line 12 and get off at Solférino station. They have free wifi and a coat check room, so do not worry if you are bringing a cabin-sized baggage!
Art that Changed My Brain Chemistry
The Age of Maturity by Camille Claudel, 1898
While looking at artworks around Auguste Rodin’s Gates of Hell, I came across this eye-catching, heart-wrenching sculpture by Camille Claudel. It shows a young woman desperately begging an old man to come back to her, while a figure of an old woman is embracing and pulling him away. The sheer devastation on the young woman’s expression gave me mixed feelings, with pity being the most pronounced.
Camille and Rodin
After looking up the title of the sculpture, The Age of Maturity (1893 -1900), I found out that it was the work of Camille Claudel. She was Rodin’s protégé, muse, and mistress. Their intense and tumultuous love story was a decade-long passionate affair mixed with misunderstandings and conflicts. The figures on the sculpture are Camille herself, Rodin, and Rose Beuret– Rodin’s longtime partner and eventual wife.
Camille’s family initially relocated to Paris to support her study in becoming a sculptress. Rodin, 24 years older and already a famous sculptor at the time, was Camille’s teacher. She became his muse and assistant, modelling for portraits done by Rodin and helping him in creating his famous works. Young and talented, Rodin quickly fell in love with Camille. Their relationship was not a smooth one, however, since Rodin was already in a long-time relationship (and even had a son!) with Rose Beuret. Even though he was in love with Camille, he refused to end his relationship with Rose. This triggered many conflicts that eventually led to their break up in 1893.
Their love story was immortalized in plenty of sculptures, but alas, Rodin eventually chose to marry Rose. Mind you, this is 53 years after they first got together and Rose ended up passing away two weeks after the wedding 😢. His career rose, while Camille’s declined. Eventually, she was sent to the Ville-Evrard mental asylum by her brother due to increasingly erratic behavior. There was some debate regarding her mental state, as there were testimonies that she still had mental clarity. Sadly, after 30 years of reclusive life at the asylum, Camille passed away in 1943 at the age of 78.
What are the Must-sees at the Museum?
Other than the sculpture above, here are some remarkable art pieces you must see during your visit:
1. Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh: This iconic painting of Van Gogh’s nocturnal view from his asylum room is one of the most visited artwork in the museum. Be prepared weave through the crowd to see this wondrous painting!
2. Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh (NOT CURRENTLY AT THE MUSÉE D’ORSAY): Sadly, this painting was in New York when I visited. One of over 43 portraits he had painted of himself, this painting shows a striking mix of turquoise and orange.
3. Luncheon on the Grass by Édouard Manet: This Impressionist masterpiece was notorious in the Salons of his time. The size of this canvas, and the questionable identity of the women made Manet’s art all the more scandalous.
4. Woman with a Parasol by Claude Monet: Monet painted his first wife, Camille, and son, Jean, on a leisurely walk at Argenteuil. The colors he picked are simply stunning.
5. Small Dancer Aged 14 by Edgar Degas: Another scandalous art piece, this time by Edgar Degas. He created a lot of paintings with ballet dancers as the subjects, and with the extensive ties of ballet and prostitution at the time, it was a cruel reality for these dancing girls. This wax sculpture was heavily criticized at the time of its original display, with plenty of criticism aimed at the subject. Degas never exhibited another wax sculpture ever again.
6. Bal du Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir: A painting done by Renoir of a bustling scene in Montmartre, it shows you how the popular district used to look like in the 1800s.
Musée d’Orsay is a place you should not miss while in Paris. The beautiful structure of its architecture, the multitudes of one-of-a-kind paintings, and impressive sculptures makes the museum a favorite among many. While you’re in Paris, check out my Louvre guide and best restaurants in Paris guide as well. Have a great time and au revoir!
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