Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh...Impressionist and post-Impressionist works have always resonated with Singaporeans, if the response to the multi-sensory exhibitions Monet Inside, Van Gogh Inside: Love, Vincent, and Joaquin Sorolla: Dancing in the Sunlight are anything to go by. These digital, 360-degree showcases offer a uniquely immersive way to engage with beloved masterpieces – but, in our opinion, nothing beats seeing the original works in person.
A new blockbuster exhibition at National Gallery Singapore is your chance to do just that. Into the Modern: Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is Southeast Asia's largest-ever showcase of French Impressionism, featuring over 100 masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, and more big names of the art movement – straight from the collection of Boston's legendary Museum of Fine Arts.
The show is all shimmering light, bold brushstrokes, and scenes of everyday life that feel as alive and fresh more than a century later. Into the Modern opens on November 14 (Friday) and it's an absolute must-go – here's what to know before you head down.
Why is this exhibition such a major event?
It's the first time that Boston's world-class collection of Impressionist works has come to Southeast Asia – and the scale is simply staggering. We're talking 25 key artists and 100 artworks, including 17 Monets. The show doesn't just look back, though. It also draws clever connections between 19th-century modern life and today's fast-changing world, touching on themes of industrialisation, tourism, urban transformation, and gender politics.
What can I experience at the exhibition?
Into the Modern is organised into seven thematic sections, tracing the evolution of the Impressionist movement and its dialogue with rapid economic and sociocultural changes in the 19th century. From Seeking the Open Air to Modern Encounters, the galleries take you from the beginnings of the Impressionist movement, onto wide waterways and vivid coastal scenes in France, and to the grand and lively streets of a fast-urbanising late 19th-century Paris.
Expect giant projections and archival posters throughout that sit in playful juxtaposition with the artworks. There are also interactive ARTelier stations where you can try your hand at Impressionist-style brushwork or see how regional artists reinterpreted the movement in Southeast Asia.
Which are the key artworks to look out for?
All your favourites are here: Monet's luminous fields and gardens, Renoir's glowing portraits, Degas's lively depictions of modern Parisian life. But there are a few surprises too, like a newly discovered self-portrait by Victorine Meurent (Manet's muse and an artist in her own right). Don't miss the show-stopping final section Monet: Moment and Memory, which brings nine of Monet's masterpieces together for the first time in Singapore.
We highly recommend setting aside around two to three hours to explore all seven sections at a leisurely pace. But if you're short on time – or simply loathe to miss the greatest hits – then here are some key artworks to look out for:
- Woman with a Parasol and Small Child on a Sunlit Hillside, Pierre-Auguste Renoir: a luminous piece that perfectly showcases Renoir's soft, feathery brushwork. The lady? Possibly Camille Monet.
- At the Races in the Countryside, Edgar Degas: Besides the more detailed and refined style, this piece stands out for its unusually 'ordinary' subject and cropping – giving the impression of a private family moment.
- Fashionable Figures on the Beach, by Eugène Louis Boudin: There's lots to observe in this painting, from the details in the expansive sky down to the elaborate dress of the people depicted in the image – a snapshot of the social scene of fashionable Parisians.
- Two Peasant Women in a Meadow, by Camille Pissarro: Found in the Shared Ambitions section, this piece stands out for the small, short brushstrokes that suggest the influence of Georges Seurat and his pointillist innovations.
- Dance at Bougival, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir: The dancers are about ready to whirl off the canvas in this vibrant Renoir piece, which captures a joyful moment in the streets of a Parisian suburb.
- The Water Lily Pond (1900), by Claude Monet: It's one of nearly 300 paintings that Monet created of his water lily pond in Giverny. This painting has all the qualities that make the series famous – subtly shifting light, rippling reflections, and a sense of immersion and emotional depth.
How does the exhibition connect to Southeast Asia and Singapore's art scene?
The exhibition also explores how Impressionism’s love of light and nature found echoes in Southeast Asia – through artists like Georgette Chen, who captured Singapore’s waterfront in luminous hues, and Lim Yew Kuan, whose iterative prints recall Pissarro’s genius. It’s a thoughtful local twist that connects global art history to homegrown creativity.
When and where is it happening – and how much are tickets?
Where: Singtel Special Exhibition Galleries, National Gallery Singapore
When: November 14, 2025 to March 1, 2026
Prices: $25 (general admission), $15 (Singaporeans and PRs)
And in news that's almost too good to be true – those who attend National Gallery Singapore's 10th anniversary bash from November 15 to 16 get to enter Into the Modern for free.
Are there any special treats or collaborations to check out?
Absolutely. After soaking up the art, indulge your taste buds. Pierre Hermé Paris is hosting Into the Haute Pâtisserie, a pop-up happening from November 14 to December 31 with macaron box sets inspired by the exhibition. Over at Fairmont Singapore, ANTI:DOTE is serving up an Impressionist-Inspired Afternoon Tea that's (almost) too pretty to eat. And if you’re after souvenirs, The Gallery Store’s exclusive collection of tote bags, tea towels, the official exhibition catalogue, and more, lets you take a piece of Impressionism home.
READ MORE
'Beatlemania on Tour' is bringing your favourite timeless hits to Singapore in May 2026
'Dear Evan Hansen' takes the stage at Sands Theatre in Singapore – and it's nothing like the film