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 greatest names of the time, or those who were to become so, taking advantage of the splendid light reflected in the Seine - landscapes that still exist today. To pay tribute to them, you can follow the painters' itinerary: at La Frette-sur-Seine, we've reproduced the canvases in the very place where they were created, and you can discover just how inspiring these places have been. Finally, a question: why the term Impressionism? According to several sources, the term "impressionism" was coined in reference to a painting by Claude Monet called "Impression, soleil levant" (now in the Musée Marmottan). Despite the deliberate pejorative nature of the term, it has stuck.
Dedicated places to discover
There's no shortage of places to learn about the arts here. 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, such as Lamazière in Cormeilles-en-Parisis, a renovated château that hosts numerous exhibitions of contemporary art, including sculpture, photography and painting. The Espace Corot in Montigny-lès-Cormeilles is also worth a mention. More generally, the existing infrastructure (village halls, modular spaces, theaters with vast areas for gatherings, etc.) is conducive to discovery, exhibition and practice, 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-la-Garenne, which celebrated its 30th year, brings together numerous artists at the Espace Saint-Exupery. The region also boasts a number of dedicated boutiques, including Art'Blaysienne in Herblay and local Saint-Leu in Saint-Leu-la-Forêt.
Sculpture side
There were also a number of exhibitions, notably at the Espace Roger Ikor in La Frette-sur-Seine. Laurence Goudeau's sculptures were exhibited at the same venue. Laurence Goudeau, who is also a painter, works in clay, creating long-limbed female figures. Thierry Daniel's works were 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 leisure centers. The face that appears as if by magic is a lovely encounter between sculpture and nature. On a traffic circle near the Ermont-Eaubonne station, another sculpture made of steel tubes, called "Etoile du Nord", pays tribute to the former SNCF factory. 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 stroll 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: for example, 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 workshops, such as those organized by the Beauchamp teen club. In a broader sense, contemporary art in its entirety is celebrated every year in Ermont via the unmissable Arami event, a benchmark in the Val-d'Oise. Ermont also boasts a number of permanent works: trompe-l'œil on the facades and columns of the Mail Rodin, a colorful work celebrating the town's greening on the gable of 18, rue de l'Eglise, the facades of the Louis Pasteur and Maurice Ravel schools or the Saint-Exupéry secondary school, the mural celebrating the Olympic and Paralympic Games on the platforms of the Ermont-Eaubonne station, to name but a few.
