The British and the French have been closely intertwined neighbours for a millennia, with much of their histories being closely tied to that of the other. I went to Graves Gallery in Sheffield City Centre to see works from these two nations come together.
Modern Europeans is a temporary display highlighting key British and French artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These artists, and their collections, largely feature outdoor scenery and have been greatly influential, inspiring works from other famous artists, as well as each other to form a base of works of the experimental art scene, which was centred around Paris.
The Modern Europeans collection was a nice set of works. Getting to follow a distinct order as we progress through the movement was a great way to experience this group of works, and the range of sceneries and media used was a refreshing and enlightening tour. The clear stand-out in this collection for me was ‘A February Morning, East Knoyle, Wiltshire’ by French artist Lucien Pissarro. This oil on canvas work used colour beautifully to craft a pastel landscape of the English countryside. The fine detailing of the trees on the horizon, leaves and even to the grass is simply remarkable, and is a testament to the artist’s skill and passion for his work.
Modern Europeans was a nice tour of the artistic brilliance of years past from both sides of the Channel. The collection featured some brilliant stand-out pieces amongst the works on display and was a great way to tour the pieces of these impressionist masters.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Modern Europeans is on display in Graves Gallery until December 2nd
