The National Gallery Singapore is currently hosting Southeast Asia's largest exhibition of Impressionist art, featuring more than 100 original works by 25 renowned artists including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and other masters of the movement. The exhibition, titled "Into the Modern: Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston," runs until March 1, 2026, and represents a major collaboration between the Singapore institution and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA Boston).

The exhibition showcases masterpieces from MFA Boston's historic Impressionist collection, which was shaped by pioneering collectors who supported these artists during their lifetimes. Among the featured artists are Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Camille Pissarro, and Berthe Morisot. Rather than following a traditional chronological approach, the exhibition invites visitors to experience the world through the eyes of these revolutionary artists.

Dr. Phoebe Scott, National Gallery Singapore's lead collaborating curator for the show, emphasized the continued relevance of Impressionist themes. "The Impressionists were the first to witness and depict the emergence of the modern world," she explained. "Their paintings reveal shifting landscapes, urban transformation, and evolving gender roles – themes that continue to resonate today." The exhibition demonstrates how these artists broke with tradition, shifting their focus from historical grandeur to ephemeral moments such as sunlight on water, dancers mid-step, and the quiet dignity of work.

The exhibition is organized into seven distinct sections: "Seeking the Open Air," "Plein Air Impressionism," "Labor and Leisure on the Water," "Shared Ambitions," "Modern Encounters," "Reimagining the Commonplace," and "Monet – Moment and Memory." Each section explores different aspects of how the Impressionists captured and interpreted the rapidly changing world around them. The exhibition design itself reflects these themes, with cool-toned galleries that shift from shadow to light, evoking the visual transitions that the Impressionists captured.

Claude Monet's work receives special attention in the exhibition, with 17 pieces featured throughout and nine works brought together in the concluding "Monet – Moment and Memory" section. His iconic "Poppy Field in a Hollow near Giverny" exemplifies the tender, delicate quality of Impressionist light, with red and green strokes that emerge and blend softly into surrounding forms. Other notable Monet works include his "Grainstack (Snow Effect)" from 1891, which demonstrates his method of building up layers of brushwork to capture changing light over time.

The exhibition also highlights lesser-known but significant figures in the Impressionist movement. Victorine Meurent, who served as a recurring model for Manet's paintings but was also an accomplished painter herself, is represented alongside Manet's "Street Singer." Her rare self-portrait offers visitors another perspective on a woman who had long been viewed only through the eyes of others. This inclusion demonstrates the exhibition's commitment to presenting a more complete picture of the Impressionist era.

Dr. Scott particularly emphasizes the work of Camille Pissarro, describing his paintings as grounded in a strong sense of humanism. Living in the French countryside while supporting a large family, Pissarro was intimately familiar with the struggles of rural life, and his empathy shows in canvases built from countless small strokes, rich with light and texture. "His works are immediately appealing," said Dr. Scott, "but they also carry a deeper social ethic that feels very relevant."

Beyond showcasing the masterpieces themselves, "Into the Modern" explores how Impressionist working methods influenced artists in Southeast Asia. The exhibition features Artelier learning zones where visitors can watch an animated film about the spread of plein air (outdoor) painting to Vietnam and try sketching inspired by the practice of Singaporean pioneer artist Georgette Chen, who often painted on location at sites such as the Singapore River.

The timing of this exhibition holds special significance as it coincides with the National Gallery Singapore's 10th anniversary. Dr. Eugene Tan, CEO and director of National Gallery Singapore and project director of "Into the Modern," noted this milestone: "We are proud to host and present these evolving narratives of Impressionism through major works from MFA Boston. Our collaboration brings these important artworks closer to local and regional audiences, invites deeper engagement with Impressionism, and creates opportunities for dialogue between global art and Singapore's cultural landscape."

Tickets for the exhibition are priced at S$15 for Singaporeans and permanent residents, and S$25 for foreign visitors. The exhibition represents a unique opportunity for Southeast Asian audiences to experience one of the most comprehensive collections of Impressionist art ever assembled in the region, offering insights into how these 19th-century artists' revolutionary approach to capturing modern life continues to resonate with contemporary viewers.