Before Paris, first a long wait at Berlin Brandenburg airport.

After another 6 hours, we are at the hotel in the heart of the city. In the morning, the view from the window confirms that these "Paris roofs" do not change and still have their charm.

The purpose of our trip: admiring one of the most impressive collections of modern and impressionist art, presented for the first time outside of Russia. The collection of brothers Mikhail and Ivan Morozov includes works by world-famous artists such as Manet, Monet, Lautrec, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso - to name but a few. The collection also showcases some of Russia's greatest art pieces to provide a full spectrum of European contemporary art.

The Bathers (study), ca. (1890-1894), Paul Cézanne, Museum of Fine ArtsPushkin

Who were the Morozovs?

“In 1870 and 1871, two brothers, Mikhail and Ivan Morozov, were born to a Moscow family of peasant textiles producers. Their mother, who was artistically educated, taught them to draw, inviting Russian artists to cooperate with them. Exhibition curator Anne Baldassari says this impressive level of selection and discernment must come from somewhere, and suspects it may be from there.

After turning 20, Mikhail, the eldest, went to Paris and bought his first paintings. Baldassari claims he is brave in buying Van Gogh and Gauguin who were then unknown. It was he who introduced the works of these two painters to Russia for the first time. Despite his untimely death at 33, his already extensive collection included works by important artists such as Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec and Renoir.

Then Ivan takes control of the family business and suspends his painting aspirations. He also buys in Paris, but not as ostentatiously as his older brother does. First of all, Cézanne. Ivan's penchant for contemporary Russian painters was not limited to Prokofiev. Those who love Picasso will be excited about the works on display. He claims they are all masterpieces and milestones in his Picasso career. "

The exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation was created in cooperation with three Russian museums: the State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg), the State Museum of Fine Arts named after Pushkin (Moscow) and the State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow).

The official closing date of the exhibition is 04/04/2022, but we are concerned that something special may happen in connection with the sanctions against Russia.

Pictures from the show will be here tomorrow!