This year marks the 150th anniversary of Impressionism, which began in 1874 when 31 artists including Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, and Berthe Morisot staged a groundbreaking exhibition in Paris. To commemorate the sesquicentennial, international institutions are hosting exhibitions such as the Musée d'Orsay's "Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism," while Artnet and Morgan Stanley have collaborated to analyze auction data from 2014 to 2023, examining the market for works by approximately 120 Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists. Despite perceptions that Impressionism has lost its luster, the number of lots offered at auction has remained steady, averaging 6,091 annually over the decade.
This analysis matters because it provides data-driven insight into the enduring market for Impressionist art, challenging assumptions about declining demand and supply. By tracking auction trends over a decade, the report reveals the genre's continued financial significance and institutional relevance, especially as museums mount major exhibitions and fresh scholarship recontextualizes the movement's legacy. The findings have implications for collectors, auction houses, and art historians navigating the evolving landscape of the art market.