Black models. From Jericho to Matisse

Exhibition“Black models. From Jericho to Matisse ” explores aesthetic, political, social and racial issues, as well as images of dark-skinned characters in the visual arts - from the abolition of slavery in France in 1794 to the present day. The long-term exhibition, in particular, considers three key periods: the era of the abolition of slavery (1794-1848), the new era of painting right up to Matisse and the avant-garde of the early 20th century, as well as subsequent generations of post-war and contemporary artists.

The exhibition mainly focuses on models and, therefore, the dialogue between the artist who draws, sculpts, engraves or photographs, and the model that poses. This is especially true of the main works of Theodore Gericault, Charles Cordier, Jean-Baptiste Carpo, Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse.