Georges de La Tour : Entre ombre et lumière
Auteur(s) : Collectif
Exhibition at the Jacquemart André Museum, Paris, 11 September 2025 - 25 January 2026
A painter of nights and light, an unrivalled master of chiaroscuro, Georges de La Tour (1593-1652) is one of the most enigmatic artists of 17th-century France. Fallen into oblivion after his death, he was only rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century, before being fully rehabilitated in art history today.
Based in Lorraine, where he enjoyed a brilliant career in the service of prestigious patrons, Georges de La Tour developed a style of remarkable power. Although there is no evidence of him ever having travelled to Italy, Georges de La Tour was influenced by Caravaggio, whose style was then spreading throughout Europe. Inspired by Dutch and Lorraine Caravaggism, he developed a personal and daring interpretation of chiaroscuro that made him truly original. His paintings are notable for their realism and sober compositions, which contrast with the dramatic intensity of Italian Caravaggist canvases.
The catalogue for this exhibition, which brings together 30 of Georges de La Tour's 40 known masterpieces, offers a fresh take on the artist's work, exploring his inventive use of light and the meditative dimension of his paintings, while placing him in the political, artistic and religious context of his time, thus revealing the uniqueness of this rare and fascinating painter.
