The Montmartre Museum is presenting an unprecedented exhibition titled "École de Paris, Collection Marek Roefler," featuring approximately 130 works by around sixty painters who defined the revolutionary artistic ferment of the interwar period. This comprehensive showcase, running from October 17, 2025, through February 15, 2026, captures the extraordinary creative explosion that occurred when artists from Eastern Europe, Spain, Italy, Japan, and beyond converged on Paris. Masterpieces by renowned figures such as Chaïm Soutine, Tamara de Lempicka, and Tsuguharu Foujita highlight how these immigrant artists transformed the city's cultural landscape and established new paradigms for modern art.

The exhibition illuminates a pivotal historical moment when the avant-garde crossed the Seine River, shifting its center from Montmartre to Montparnasse approximately a century ago. While Montmartre had served as the cradle of modernity since the late nineteenth century, the interwar period witnessed a deliberate migration of creative talent to the Left Bank. The term "École de Paris" was actually coined by an art critic in 1925, not to describe a unified movement, but rather to characterize this cosmopolitan and heterogeneous community of migrant artists. Many of these creators were Jewish individuals marked by exile and displacement, who dreamed of establishing an artistic practice that was both liberated and distinctly different from established conventions.

The collection belonging to Marek Roefler provides visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to understand the diverse aesthetic approaches that flourished within this community. Artists like Georges Ascher, whose "Petite fille derrière une table" from around 1925 exemplifies the intimate portraiture of the period, demonstrate the technical mastery and emotional depth these migrants brought to their work. The exhibition deliberately presents a wide spectrum of styles, from expressionist figuration to early abstraction, reflecting how these artists processed their experiences of displacement while responding to the vibrant Parisian environment. Each piece serves as a testament to the resilience and creativity of individuals who rebuilt their lives through artistic expression.

What makes this exhibition particularly significant is its focus on the social and cultural networks that sustained these artists beyond mere stylistic similarities. The works are displayed in a way that emphasizes the interconnectedness of this community, showing how shared studios, cafés, and exhibition spaces facilitated the exchange of ideas across national and cultural boundaries. The Montmartre Museum's location at 12 Rue Cortot adds another layer of historical resonance, as this neighborhood itself was instrumental in nurturing the early modernist movements that preceded the École de Paris. Visitors can thus experience the artworks within a setting that physically connects them to the history they represent.

The exhibition curators have carefully arranged the presentation to guide viewers through the evolution of this artistic community, beginning with the initial arrivals in Montmartre and following their gradual establishment in Montparnasse. This narrative structure helps audiences understand how these immigrant artists navigated the challenges of establishing themselves in a foreign city while contributing to Paris's reputation as the world's artistic capital. Educational materials accompanying the display provide context about the political upheavals, including World War I and the Russian Revolution, that forced so many artists into exile and toward the relative freedom of interwar France.

For contemporary audiences, this exhibition offers more than just aesthetic appreciation; it presents a powerful meditation on the role of immigration in cultural enrichment and artistic innovation. The parallels between the refugee experiences of these 1920s artists and present-day migrations resonate throughout the galleries, inviting reflection on how societies benefit from welcoming creative talents from around the world. The Montmartre Museum's ambitious project ensures that the legacy of the École de Paris continues to inspire new generations of artists and art lovers, demonstrating how Paris earned and maintained its status as a beacon for creative freedom during one of Europe's most turbulent periods.