Maximilien Luce (1858-1941),
the instinct of Landscape

This retrospective highlights the work of neo-impressionist painter Maximilien Luce, a key figure in anarchist circles, through the lens of landscape. Beyond the humanist spirit that drives Luce’s work, landscape emerges as a central theme in his painting.

The exhibition traces the artist’s travels, shedding light on the social and industrial transformations of his era.

Idyllic scenes of bathing coexist with the ominous silhouettes of factories. The city, factories, and nature become fertile grounds for experimentation. The unique way in which Luce captures light and color reveals the astonishing beauty of both urban and rural landscapes.

Rooted in the history of Montmartre and the contradictions of his time, the painter’s work is highlighted in this exhibition, which aims to reaffirm his importance and introduce his often little-known work to the general public.

The exhibition takes visitors on a retrospective journey between the two essential poles of his life, Paris and Rolleboise. Visitors are invited to follow the artist’s peregrinations from Montmartre, where he lived from 1887 to 1900, through the hustle and bustle of the Parisian streets, and on his travels from Saint-Tropez to the Pays-Noir of Charleroi, via the Netherlands, Normandy and London.

Curated by

• Jeanne Paquet, head of the Hôtel-Dieu de Mantes-la-Jolie museum
• Alice S. Legé, PhD in art history, curatorial director of the Musée de Montmartre