The Fondation Beyeler in Riehen/Basel, Switzerland, marks its 20th anniversary with a major exhibition dedicated to Claude Monet, the pioneering figure of French Impressionism. The show concentrates on works painted from around 1880 into the early 20th century, and also includes a selection of late-period pieces that highlight Monet’s gradual engagement with early modernist tendencies. Together, the works demonstrate his exceptional command of light, color, and atmosphere.
Visitors will encounter a broad range of subjects that defined Monet’s practice: luminous Mediterranean vistas, quiet haystack compositions, fog-shrouded bridges, and dramatic Atlantic coastal scenes. Across these motifs, Monet explores shifting weather, the play of reflected light, and subtle tonal variation—qualities that made him central to the development of modern painting.
The exhibition brings together a substantial group of loans: 15 paintings from private collections and 62 works borrowed from major institutions around the world. Lenders include leading museums in Europe, Japan, and the United States, offering an international perspective on Monet’s work and influence. The selection allows viewers to follow thematic and chronological threads through Monet’s late career, highlighting both signature masterpieces and lesser-known studies that reveal his working methods.
On view through May 28, the exhibition provides an opportunity to see a concentrated survey of Monet’s later output within the intimate setting of the Fondation Beyeler. Curators have arranged the galleries to emphasize formal developments—such as Monet’s evolving brushwork and color harmonies—as well as his enduring interest in capturing transient effects of light and atmosphere. The presentation underscores why Monet remains a touchstone for subsequent generations of artists and for audiences drawn to painting’s capacity to translate perception into visual experience.
Whether you are familiar with Monet’s celebrated series or encountering these works for the first time, the exhibition offers a richly immersive encounter with paintings that helped redefine how we see the natural world. It is a timely celebration of the Fondation Beyeler’s anniversary and an invitation to rediscover the poetic power of Monet’s late work.