Impressionism: a historical reconstruction
1874 – 1886 expositions
Number of works exhibited
Introduction:
How many art-works were exhibited at the 8 ‘impressionist’ expositions from 1874-1886? Most sources render just the number of the catalogues, but in reality there were (much) more works exhibited. On this page you will first find a detailed account of the number of art-works that were exhibited per year. Next you will find an overview of the number of art-works that were exhibited.
1874, number of exhibited art-works:
The catalogue of the 1st ‘impressionist’ exposition renders 165 numbers: 165.
The following numbers were (probably) not exhibited: the numbers 71-73 are left out (between Latouche and Lepic): 165-3=162.
The following numbers also contained a bis number: 32 (Brandon), 35 (Bureau), 91 (Meyer), 94 (de Molins), 118 (de Nittis): 162+5=167 .
The following catalogue numbers (probably) contained more than 1 art-work: 3=6 (=number 3 contained 6 art-works), 4=4 (Astruc); number 9 contained probably at least 2 works (Attendu); 20=4, 21=2, 22=4 (Boudin); 24=12, 25=6, 26=7, 27=5, 28=2 (Bracquemond); number 31 contained at least 2 aquarelles, I assume it were at least 6 (Brandon); 99=2, 100=2, 101=2 (Monet); number 118 contained at least 2 studies, I assume 3 (de Nittis); number 160 contained at least 2 aquarelles (Robert): 167+54=221.
The following partakers (probably) also exhibited art-works that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Cals (1x); Morisot (1x); Sisley (1x): 221+3=224. Note: there is discussion if Renoir also showed a work outside the catalogue, but I assume he didn’t.
The following artist also did partake, but was not in the catalogue: Comtesse de Luchaire, she exhibited at least 1 painting: 224+1=225.
So in 1874 at the 1st ‘impressionist’ exposition about 225 art-works were exhibited.
1876, number of exhibited art-works:
The catalogue of the 2nd ‘impressionist’ exposition renders 252 numbers: 252.
The following numbers were (probably) not exhibited: no.52 + 56 of Degas, they (probably) were exhibited in 1877: 252-2=250. Note: (I assume no.50 was exhibited, though this is disputed).
The following catalogue numbers (probably) contained more than 1 art-work: number 51 contained at least 2 art-works and probably just 2 (Degas); the numbers 67-72 contained at least 2 art-works (Desboutin); number 81+82 contained 7 art-works, no. 88 contained 2 (Legros); number 125 contained 5 art-works, number 126+127 contained 2 works and number 135 at least 2×2=4, but I assume 8 art-works (Lepic); number 182 contained 3 art-works (Morisot); number 196 contained 7 art-works and number 196 contained 3 (Léon Ottin): 250+43=293.
The following partakers (probably) also exhibited art-works that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Desboutin; Monet; Renoir; Sisley (2x): 293+5=298. There is discussion if Degas showed a photograph outside the catalogue, but I assume he didn’t.
Comtesse the Rambure also did partake, but was not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc). But probably she was the same as the woman who exhibited using the name Jacques François: 298+0=298.
So in 1876 at the 2nd ‘impressionist’ exposition about 298 art-works were exhibited.
1877, number of exhibited art-works:
The catalogue of the 3rd ‘impressionist’ exposition renders 241 numbers: 241.
The following numbers were (probably / maybe) not exhibited: 42+51+54 (Degas), I assume no.42 that would be exhibited in 1879 wasn’t and no.51 that probably wasn’t exhibited in 1876 was and also that no.54 was exhibited; no. 116 +118 (Monet): 241-3=238. Note: maybe no. 116 +118 were not exhibited
The following catalogue numbers (probably) contained more than 1 art-work: the numbers 58-60 of Degas all contained of at least 2 ‘drawings’: 238+3=241. Note: it is unclear if no. 202+203 of Renoir contained each 2 works or just 1, I assume the latter option.
The following partakers (probably) also exhibited art-works that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Cézanne; Degas; Monet (3x); Morisot; Rouart; Sisley: 241+8=249.
Comtesse the Rambure also did partake, but was not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc). But probably she was the same as the woman who exhibited using the name Jacques François: 249+0=249.
So in 1877 at the 3rd ‘impressionist’ exposition about 249 art-works were exhibited.
1879, number of exhibited art-works:
The catalogue of the 4th ‘impressionist’ exposition renders 246 numbers: 246.
No.67 of Degas probably wasn’t exhibited; it was not mentioned in the reviews and (probably) exhibited as 6IE-1881-hc2: 246-1=245. Note: Maybe the following works of Degas were not exhibited: no. 59+61+67+69, but because it is unsure I still will count them as being exhibited.
The following catalogue numbers (probably) contained more than 1 art-work: no.230 of Somm contained at least 2 and I assume 6 drawings; no.238 of Tillot contained 2 paintings: 245+6=251. Note: no.1 of Marie Bracquemond consisted of 3 large panels, still I will count it as 1 picture.
The following partakers (probably) also exhibited art-works that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Caillebotte exhibited probably 4 paintings that were not in the catalogue, a 5th one suggested probably wasn’t exhibited; Cassatt 1x; Degas 2x; Monet (3x); Pissarro (1x); Zandomeneghi (1x): 251+12=263.
The following artists also did partake, but were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Gauguin with 1 work; Piette with at least 3 and perhaps 12 watercolours. (R2,p260+263+271;R90II,p117), I assume 8: 263+9=272.
So in 1879 at the 4th ‘impressionist’ exposition about 272 art-works were exhibited.
1880, number of exhibited art-works:
The catalogue of the 5th ‘impressionist’ exposition renders 232 numbers: 232.
The following numbers were (probably) not exhibited: no.8 of Caillebotte; no.33 + 34 of Degas: 232-3=229. Note: maybe the numbers 35 + 36 + 37 of Degas also weren’t exhibited, but this is more uncertain, so I will count them as exhibited.
The following catalogue numbers (probably) contained more than 1 art-work: maybe no. 5 of Félix Bracquemond contained 25 etchings; no. 25 of Cassatt contained 2 works, so did no.27 (and maybe also no.28-32, but I assume not); no.42 + 43 of Degas both contained at least two drawings; I assume no.44 of Degas contained 8 etchings; no.52 of Forain probably contained of 3 works; no. 112 of Levert contained of at least 2 etchings, I will count 2; the numbers 139 + 140 + 141 of Pissarro each contained of 4 etchings and no.142 of 5; no. 164 of Jean-François Raffaëlli consisted of at least 3 etchings; no. 166 of 4 and no. 167 of at least 3; no.180 of Jean-Marius Raffaëlli consisted of 6 etchings; no. 204 + 205 of Tillot consisted I assume of each 4 studies: 229+69=298.
The following partakers (probably) also exhibited art-works that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Caillebotte 1x; Degas 3x; Guillaumin 4x; Jean-François Raffaëlli 3x: 298+11=309. Note: it is disputed if Marie Bracquemond exhibited a work that was not in the catalogue, untill there is more clarity I won’t follow this suggestion. It is also suggested that Forain showed 2 works that were not in the catalogue; I follow the alternative that these works were exhibited under no.47+52.
So in 1880 at the 5th ‘impressionist’ exposition about 309 art-works were exhibited.
1881, number of exhibited art-works:
The catalogue of the 6th ‘impressionist’ exposition renders 170 numbers: 170.
The following catalogue numbers (probably) contained more than 1 art-work: no.149 of Tillot contained studies and sketches, I assume at least 4. 170+3=173.
The following partakers (probably) also exhibited art-works that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Degas about 8x; Vidal 1x: 173+9=182.
There were posthumous works shown of Cals, which were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc). I assume it were at least 4: 182+4=186.
So in 1881 at the 6th ‘impressionist’ exposition about 186 art-works were exhibited.
1882, number of exhibited art-works:
The catalogue of the 7th ‘impressionist’ exposition renders 203 numbers: 203.
The following numbers were (probably) not exhibited: the numbers 123+124 were left out in the catalogue (Pissarro): 203-2=201.
None of the catalogue numbers contained more than 1 art-work: 201+0=201.
The following partakers (probably) also exhibited art-works that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Caillebotte exhibited probably just 1 and not a second work outside the catalogue; Morisot exhibited 3 and maybe 4 works outside the catalogue; Pissarro (2x); Renoir (4x): 201+11=212.
So in 1882 at the 7th ‘impressionist’ exposition about 212 art-works were exhibited.
1886, number of exhibited art-works:
The catalogue of the 8th ‘impressionist’ exposition renders 246 numbers: 246.
The following numbers were (probably) not exhibited: no. 233 is left out in the catalogue (Vignon): 246-1-245. Note: Of 5 pastels of Degas it is uncertain if he did exhibit them (no.17+18+20+27+28), but because of this uncertainty I will still count them as being exhibited. It is also known that Degas completed his hanging of the nude pastels during the exposition (R2,p441)
The following numbers also contained a bis number: 94 (Morisot), 102 (Camille Pissarro), 234 (Vignon): 245+3=248.
The following number also contained a ter number: 234 (Vignon): 248+1=249.
The following catalogue numbers (probably) contained more than 1 art-work: the numbers 92 + 93 + 94 contained of at least 2 and I assume 6 works of Morisot; no.107 of Camille Pissarro probably contained of 6 pastels; the following numbers contained each two art-works of Camille Pissarro no. 110+112+113; of Tillot no.210 + 217; no. 116 of Lucien Pissarro contained 11 works (or maybe more), no.122 5 and no. 123 9: 249+ (15+5+5+10+4+8=) 47 = 296
The following partakers (probably) also exhibited art-works that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc): Forain (1x); Gauguin (1x); probably Redon (1x): 296+3=299.
There also was a Comtesse de Rambure, who was not in the catalogue at all (=hors catalogue =hc) and exhibited at least 2 art-works: 299+2=301.
So in 1886 at the 8th ‘impressionist’ exposition about 301 art-works were exhibited.
Number of works exhibited, an overview:
In the PDF below you will see how many works the 56+2hc-1=57 partakers did show at the eight ‘impressionist’ expositions from 1874-1886. (Note: Comtesse de Rambure probably was the same as the woman who exhibited with the pseudonym Jacques François.) The artists that were not in the catalogue (=hors catalogue =hc) are given in pink, so is the number of there exhibited works. The numbers of partakers that also exhibited works outside the catalogue are rendered in purple. When a catalogue number contained a plural of art-works I mostly count 2 art-works and I render the total amount in green, which means that the total amount could be higher. When there are arguments, I count more than 2 art-works when there is a plural form, this makes the amount uncertain, this will be rendered in orange. This also will be done when maybe a work was left out. Orange means that the total amount could be higher or lower. The obvious numbers / large amounts of exhibited works are given in bold.
Note: this overview will soon be adjusted, because it is not fully accurate.
overview number of works exhibited
Main sources:
My main sources are Moffett (1986=R2=aR1), Berson (1996=R90), Dayez (1974=R87=aR2), and the Salon database (=iR1)
Recommanded citation: “Impressionism, a historical reconstruction: The ‘impressionist’ expositions 1874-1886; number of works exhibited. Last modified 2023/11/25. https://www.impressionism.nl/expositions-number-of-works-exhibited/.”
Note: More info will be added.