Matisse to Malevich

The second exhibition to be held in the Hermitage Amsterdam showcases a selection of one of the best collections of late nineteenth and early twentieth French painting in the world.

Pioneers of Modern Art

The 'Pioneers of Modern Art' exhibition will run from 6 March to 17 September 2010 and display a selection of the finest works from the collection held at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. The collection includes masterpieces by modernist pioneers including Matisse, Van Dongen, De Vlaminck, Derain and Picasso. Works from this period are characterised by strong colours and contrasts, heavy brushstrokes, multiple forms and daring distortion alongside stark use of light and shadow.

Behind the art

The exhibition places the understanding of modernism in a historical perspective and focuses extensively on the significant role these artists played in this particular artistic renaissance. However, the exhibition also burrows deeper to examine the artists as individuals: how they experienced this overwhelmingly significant period in art history and where they found their inspiration. This is the first time that such a selection of French avant-garde masterpieces from the Hermitage collection will be displayed on Dutch soil in an exhibition that is unrivalled in the Netherlands.

International icons

Spanish and Russian talent is also represented alongside the French masters. The exhibition features no less than twelve works by Picasso, famed for his experimental, innovative techniques and a number of works by Russian artists Kandinsky and Malevich.

Future retrospective

A second exhibition is planned to follow on from 'Pioneers of Modern Art'. This subsequent exhibition will examine the origins of modern art based on an extensive selection of works by renowned French impressionists also held at the Hermitage.