On April 15, 1874, the first impressionist exhibition opened in Paris. At first encouraging, Le Figaro became particularly scathing in the following years.
A short, unsigned article rings the bell: “The impression given by the Impressionists is that of a cat wandering across the keyboard of a piano, or of a monkey grabbing hold of a color box” In her fifth exhibition in 1880, Berthe Morisot maintained a feminine grace amidst the excesses of a delirious mind. The BnF press site has a selection of the best articles from the Figaro archives. For more information on the Bnf press site, visit: www.bnf.com/news/press/article/1874-1880-the-first-impressionist-exhibition-opened-in-Paris-and-le-figaro-became particularly hostile and mocking in the following years. The Figaro press site also has a collection of the most popular articles from that period, including: “A Cat On A Keyboard” by Albert Wolff.