The Navy Museum in Paris is hosting a major exhibition titled "The Navy and the Painters" from May 13 to August 2, 2026, featuring nearly 150 paintings spanning the 17th to 20th centuries. The show traces the evolution of maritime art and the French Navy's history, with works by artists such as Manet, Signac, and Le Lorrain, alongside a special section on the Navy's Official Painters (POM) with 84 contemporary works.
This exhibition matters because it illuminates the often-overlooked relationship between art and naval power, showing how painters shaped public perception of the French Navy across four centuries. By linking artistic movements—from Classicism to Surrealism—with historical shifts in politics, technology, and society, the show offers a unique lens on both art history and national identity, while also highlighting the ongoing tradition of official naval painters.