A History Of Shadows At Fondation De l’Hermitage

Dressing the Kitten by Joseph Wright, 1768-1770

On a sunny June morning our voyage started in the charming city of Lausanne in Switzerland. The direction was up on the hill to visit the Fondation de l’Hermitage, a museum of fine arts. Along with its rich permanent collection, a well-curated exhibition entitled Ombres de la Renaissance à nos jours, is now taking place until the 27th of October 2019.

More than 140 works of art, selected from the most prestigious international museums, will take you on a journey across 500 years of history through paintings, sculptures, photography, videography, and unique installations.

The foundation has transformed its countryside space to welcome guests who will witness diverse styles, époques and artistic movements; auto-portrait, landscape, romanticism, impressionism, post-impressionism, surrealism, and more.

What many art enthusiasts might not be aware of is that the element of shadow has played an important role in the transformation and evolution of painting techniques. You will realize that shadows often reveal untold stories that artists wanted to express discreetly.

An audio guide available in English and French will accompany you as you gaze at the works of iconic artists all under the same roof. Think of Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Eugène Delacroix and Andy Warhol. And for the youngsters, a very immersive and culturally enriching program is organized by Fondation de l’Hermitage.

Make sure to book your tickets before October 27, 2019 here.

Houses of Parliament London by Claude Monet, 1905

Auto-portrait by Andy Warhol, 1966

The Shadow by Pablo Picasso, 1953