FLORENCE.- This year marks the 150th anniversary of a defining moment in art history. In April 1874, 31 artists, including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, and Paul Cézanne, broke away from the constraints of the academic art world to stage their own groundbreaking exhibition. Held in the Parisian gallery of photographer Nadar, this bold move gave birth to Impressionism, a revolutionary art movement that forever changed the way art was perceived and created. The movement’s name was coined from a disparaging review by journalist Louis Leroy, who, in an article for Le Charivari, mockingly referred to the group’s works as “impressions” after seeing Monet’s Impression, Sunrise (1872). What began as a critique became the enduring identity of one of history’s most beloved artistic revolutions.

To celebrate this milestone, the Museo degli Innocenti in Florence is hosting Impressionists in Normandy, an extraordinary exhibition running from November 21. At its heart is an iconic masterpiece: Claude Monet’s Pink Water Lilies, on loan from the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome. This painting, part of Monet’s first series of water lilies created between 1897 and 1899, captures the artist’s early studies for the Nymphéas decorations intended for the Orangerie in Paris. Remarkably, the artwork was forgotten by Monet himself and stored away until its rediscovery in 1914. Today, it stands as a symbol of Monet’s transformative artistic journey, blending his en plein air techniques with a dreamlike fluidity that transcends detailed representation.

The exhibition features over 70 works, offering visitors an immersive exploration of Impressionism’s evolution and its deep ties to the Normandy region. Known for its stunning landscapes, shifting light, and vibrant colors, Normandy became a haven for Impressionist painters, serving as a natural studio where they could experiment with new techniques and forms. Artists such as Monet, Renoir, Delacroix, and Courbet found endless inspiration in the region’s dynamic beauty, capturing the shimmering waters, rolling green hills, and dramatic coastal cliffs that define the area. Their works immortalize Normandy as the cradle of Impressionism, a place where the boundaries of traditional art were redefined.

In addition to Pink Water Lilies, the exhibition highlights masterpieces like Delacroix’s Cliffs at Dieppe (1834), Courbet’s The Beach at Trouville (1865), Monet’s Fécamp (1881), and Renoir’s Sunset, Guernsey View (1893). These works illustrate the collaborative spirit and artistic exchanges that fueled the movement. Many of the paintings are drawn from the prestigious Peindre en Normandie collection, supported by loans from Le Havre’s Musée d’Art Moderne and private collections. Together, they present a vivid narrative of the movement’s origins and evolution.

The exhibition also pays homage to the English watercolorists, such as Turner and Parkes, who influenced the Impressionists with their ability to translate natural vitality onto canvas. The Normandy landscapes they painted—Dieppe, Honfleur, Deauville, and Fécamp—were later embraced by French artists who captured their fleeting beauty through Impressionist techniques. Accompanied by educational panels, the exhibition delves into the bold brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and ethereal lighting that define the movement.

Impressionists in Normandy is not only a celebration of 150 years of Impressionism but also an invitation to experience the timeless beauty that captivated some of history’s greatest artists. Through this exhibition, visitors are transported to the landscapes and moments that birthed an artistic revolution, inspiring awe and appreciation for the Impressionists' enduring legacy.