Salon des Refusés

Salon des Refusés refers to an art exhibition held in 1863 in Paris, France, that showcased works rejected by the jury of the official Paris Salon, the prestigious annual exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. The Salon des Refusés was initiated by an order from Emperor Napoleon III after the Paris Salon jury rejected an unusually large number of artworks, leading to public outcry and complaints from the artists. The emperor decreed that the public should judge the rejected works themselves, resulting in the first Salon des Refusés.

Background

The Académie des Beaux-Arts controlled the artistic standards in France and organized the annual Paris Salon, which was the official art exhibition of the Académie. The Salon was the primary way for artists to achieve recognition and sell their works. However, the jury's conservative tastes and the high number of submissions led to many works being rejected. In 1863, the Salon jury rejected nearly 3,000 works, a significantly higher number than in previous years. This prompted complaints from the artistic community and led to the intervention of Napoleon III.

The Exhibition

The Salon des Refusés was held in a separate section of the Palais des Industrie, where the official Salon took place. It opened in May 1863 and featured over 1,000 works by around 600 artists. The exhibition included paintings, sculptures, and prints. Notable artists who exhibited at the Salon des Refusés include Édouard Manet, whose painting Le déjeuner sur l'herbe (The Luncheon on the Grass) caused a scandal due to its unconventional subject matter and style, and Camille Pissarro, who would later become a key figure in the Impressionist movement.

Impact

The Salon des Refusés had a significant impact on the art world. It marked a turning point in the relationship between the art establishment and artists, leading to greater acceptance of new ideas and styles. The exhibition is often seen as a precursor to the Impressionist movement, as it provided a platform for artists who were later associated with Impressionism to display their works. The Salon des Refusés also highlighted the growing divide between traditional academic art and the emerging avant-garde.

Legacy

The Salon des Refusés is remembered as a landmark event in art history that challenged the traditional art establishment and paved the way for modern art movements. It demonstrated the importance of alternative venues for displaying art and contributed to the democratization of art criticism by involving the public in the debate over artistic merit. The concept of a "salon of the rejected" has inspired subsequent exhibitions and remains a symbol of artistic rebellion and innovation.