The Impressionists: their imprint on the region
It's impossible to talk about the region without mentioning Impressionism. It was in the 1860s that this new technique became widespread among young painters: brushstroke painting, pure colors, everyday subjects, precise work on the motif. This period is considered to have coincided with the possibility of much more efficient travel thanks to the rail revolution. The painters of the time, who until then had remained confined to Paris, could now travel quickly to within a few kilometers of the capital. In addition to Pontoise, the banks of the Seine between La Frette-sur-Seine and Herblay-sur-Seine saw the arrival of some of the great names of the time, or those who were to become so. Pissarro, Marquet and Daubigny are the main names, but many other painters came here to take advantage of the splendid light reflected in the Seine - landscapes that still exist today. To pay homage to them, you can follow the painters' itinerary: at La Frette, we've reproduced the canvases on the very spot where they were created, and you can discover just how inspiring the place has been. Finally, a question: why the term Impressionism? According to several sources, it was a sharp criticism of a painting by Claude Monet called "Impression, soleil levant" (now in the Musée Marmottan), to which the term "impressionism" was attributed. Notwithstanding the deliberately pejorative aspect of the term, it's the one that stuck.
Dedicated places to discover
There's no shortage of places to learn about the arts. There's a strong network of media libraries: you're sure to find plenty of information on the fine arts in the broadest sense. But the region also boasts a number of dedicated spaces: Lamazière, for example, this renovated château is the venue for numerous exhibitions of contemporary art, whether sculpture, photography or painting. More generally, the existing infrastructures (village halls, modular spaces, theaters with vast areas for gatherings, etc.) are conducive to discovery, exhibition or practice, all supported by a dense network of associations.
Numerous trade fairs, meetings and sales areas
There's no shortage of regular events to familiarize you even more with the local arts. In La Frette-sur-Seine, for example, the traditional "Painters' Day" is organized every year by the "Les Couleurs de l'Art" association. For one day, artists take up residence along the Seine to immortalize the area, present their work and chat with the public. Here, you'll also find other creators of jewelry and sculptures, for example. Not far away, in Montigny-lès-Cormeilles, painting demonstrations and events are offered as part of the "Fête de la Peinture". Other events take place throughout the year: in Beauchamp, for a day called "De la couleur dans la ville", the public can stroll through public spaces to meet painters at work. In the same town, a painting salon is also held annually. The Salon de Printemps de la Palette in Franconville, which celebrated its 30th year, brings together numerous artists at the Espace Saint-Exupery. There are also a number of dedicated stores in the area, including Art'Blaysienne in Herblay and the local Saint-Leu, in the town of the same name.
Sculpture side
There are a few notable exhibitions, such as those of local artist Josée Ricard, whose next session will take place at Espace Roger Ikor. A few weeks earlier, Laurence Goudeau's sculptures were exhibited in the same space. Goudeau, who is also a painter, works in clay, creating long, feminine figures. Thierry Daniel's works are also on display: pure and uncluttered, they are reminiscent of Giacometti's work. More unexpected is the tree sculpted in Bessancourt's Parc Keller, the result of work by sculptor Nordine Falek with children from local leisure centers. The face that appears as if by magic is a beautiful encounter between sculpture and nature. A land of artists, the Val Parisis conurbation also boasts other sculptors, such as Lydie Konstantin in La Frette-sur-Seine, or Françoise Baron in Cormeilles-en-Parisis.
Street art and contemporary art
Many people say it, and it's true: the best way to admire street art is to take a stroll through the streets of the Val Parisis conurbation. This art form has gone from being confidential in the 1980s to becoming one of the artistic emblems of our time. Here, exhibitions and retrospectives are numerous. Sometimes ephemeral, sometimes lasting for years, there's no shortage of them here: such as the graffiti exhibition organized at Lamazière a few years ago, whose success left a lasting impression. More recently, the Maison des Associations in Ermont was the setting for an urban art exhibition called "Art Station". Finally, every May, Bessancourt organizes a day dedicated to street-art, with live music sessions and graffiti demonstrations. Youngsters can also take part in street-art workshops, such as those organized by the Beauchamp teen club. More broadly, contemporary art in its entirety is celebrated every year in Ermont via the unmissable Arami event, which celebrates contemporary art in the Val d'Oise. The week-long event, whose theme for 2024 was the adjective "dynamic", brought together a host of top names at the Théâtre Pierre Fresnay.
