The Musée Jacquemart-André’s latest exhibition, titled “From Shadow to Light,” showcases the works of French Baroque painter Georges de La Tour. This retrospective is the first major one in France since 1997 and follows a series of exhibitions exploring artists influenced by Caravaggio. The museum itself is a private residence turned into a museum in 1913, housing an extensive collection of applied and fine arts belonging to banker Édouard André and his wife Nélie Jacquemart.
Georges de La Tour’s work is characterized by his incorporation of Caravaggesque chiaroscuro into his genre compositions, giving them a unique intimate and spiritual quality. The exhibition features dark scenes of isolated figures engaged in mundane activities, such as “A Woman Catching a Flea” and “Boy Blowing on a Firebrand.” The proximity of the paintings to each other in the small exhibition space enhances the closeness of the subjects to the viewer, creating a sense of intimacy.
De La Tour’s use of chiaroscuro differs from Caravaggio’s in that his scenes are smaller and the figures are trapped around a single light source, intensifying the dramatic effect. The paintings feel claustrophobic and immediate, drawing viewers into the narrative. Despite the lack of captions in languages other than French, the paintings speak for themselves, conveying the themes and emotions effectively.
The exhibition is notable not only for its exploration of a lesser-known artist but also for the international loans that have contributed to its assembly. The selection of artworks and the line of inquiry chosen by the curators effectively demonstrate De La Tour’s unique style and artistic vision.
“Georges de La Tour: From Shadow to Light” is on display at the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris until January 25, 2026. Curated by Gail Feigenbaum and Pierre Curie, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the works of this Baroque master in a unique and intimate setting.
