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27 January 2025

Treasures from Geneva’s Petit Palais on show at the Fondation de l’Hermitage

by Laëtitia Cadiou


From January 24 to June 1, 2025, a major exhibition dedicated to the masterpieces of Geneva’s Petit Palais. Through 135 exceptional works, this presentation reveals the breadth and originality of a singular collection, assembled with passion by visionary collector Oscar Ghez.

An avant-garde vision of art

The Petit Palais, founded in Geneva in 1968, embodies an innovative approach to art. Its creator, Oscar Ghez, did not limit himself to the great established figures. He explored the margins of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modernist trends, giving pride of place to lesser-known artists who were often precursors of their time. This pioneering approach has led to the rediscovery of talents such as Gustave Caillebotte, Charles Angrand and Nathalie Kraemer.


Nathalie Kraemer (1891-1943), Femme assise sur un tabouret | Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Apothéose des chats, 1905 | Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, La chat fâché, sans date

A collection at the crossroads of styles and eras

The exhibition offers a fascinating journey through the major currents in painting:

  • Impressionism and post-impressionism : Works by Manet, Renoir and Bazille immerse visitors in the light and atmosphere of 19th-century landscapes and scenes of life.
  • Modernism and the École de Paris : Artists such as Tamara de Lempicka and Suzanne Valadon embody the audacity and diversity of the aesthetics of the early 20th century.
  • Social commitment and humanism : The focus is on painters like Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, whose works reflect a poignant attention to social realities, between Montmartre and the working-class world.

A commitment to forgotten artists

Ghez was also one of the first to collect extensively works by women artists, long before their place in art history was recognized. The exhibition features vibrant paintings by Marie Bracquemond, Jeanne Hébuterne and Tamara de Lempicka, providing a valuable counterpoint to traditional stories.

Marie Bracquemond, Sur la terrasse à Sèvres, 1880 | Jeanne Hébuterne, Autoportrait, 1916 | Tamara De Lempicka, Les deux amies or Perspective, 1924

A second life for a little-known collection

Since the Petit Palais closed in 2000, these art treasures have been traveling the world. The exhibition at the Fondation de l’Hermitage marks an important milestone, reconnecting the public with a heritage that sheds new light on the history of art.

Ker-Xavier Roussel, Le parc, 1911

Practical information

Dates : January 24, 2025 – June 01, 2025

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10am-6pm
Wednesday: 10am-6pm
Thursday: 10am-9pm
Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 10am-6pm

info@fondation-hermitage.ch

+41 (0)21 320 50 01

Fondation de l’Hermitage
Route du Signal 2
1018 Lausanne