The Petit Palais in Paris is hosting three winter exhibitions: a retrospective of 18th-century portraitist Jean-Baptiste Greuze (until January 25), a tribute to Finnish landscape painter Pekka Halonen (until February 22), and a solo show of contemporary artist Bilal Hamdad (until February 8). The Greuze exhibition is the first full retrospective dedicated to the artist, featuring around 100 works on loan from major collections. The Halonen show, the first major tribute to the Finnish painter in France, highlights his modernist snowy landscapes. Hamdad’s exhibition presents 20 large-scale paintings exploring urban solitude, drawing inspiration from Old Masters like Rubens and Manet.
These exhibitions matter because they bring renewed attention to historically overlooked artists—Greuze, once celebrated but later forgotten, and Halonen, little known outside Finland—while also showcasing emerging contemporary talent. By juxtaposing historical and modern works, the Petit Palais reinforces its role as a bridge between past and present, offering visitors a diverse cultural experience that enriches understanding of art history and contemporary practice.