Witness the beginnings of an historical and revolutionary art movement as you strap on your virtual reality headsets to visit various Impressionist painters in Tonight With The Impressionists: Paris 1874. This 45-minute show from the Musee d’Orsay, Excurio and Gedeon Experiences, is now showing at Eclipso. It is nothing less than awe-inducing. You’ll blend into the scenery in various locations, including garrets, exhibitions, studios, a street cafe, a trip the verdant countryside, the Gare Saint-Lazare, a rooftop to view fireworks, and 1874 Parisian street scenes. View Paris at dusk, see horses on the street (and hear their clomps on cobblestone), watch the smoke curl up from a pipe as a renowned painter explains his work, and feel as though you’re there.
Breaking with the artistic conventions of their time, you’ll meet Berthe Morisot, Paul Cezanne, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and others as they prepare to exhibit outside of the official Salon in France for the first time ever, launching the movement called Impressionism. You’ll see them at work, hear their conversations and inside jokes, and you’ll move through gallery shows and exhibitions as though you’re actually standing in front of the paintings. The artwork is gorgeous and realistic, and the experience is so memorable.
Arriving at precisely 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 1874, you’ll be among painters, including Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir, who have gathered in photographer Nadar’s studio to present 165 artworks outside the official Salon. In a move that was considered revolutionary, you’ll witness the very first Impressionist exhibition. You’ll also explore everything from the official Salon and Bazille’s studio, where the idea for the exhibition originated, to La Grenouillère, where Monet and Renoir painted, and Le Havre, where Monet created his iconic Impression, Soleil Levant. It’s all magical, including the fireworks display.
This is an excellent way to treat yourself, friends, and visitors to New York City this holiday season. Tickets are $35 each for adults, with a discount for students, military, students, and groups, which is so reasonable considering how incredible this experience is and how much you learn.
You’ll be guided through your time with the Impressionists by a virtual woman who explains what you’re seeing to place it in historical context. I found the attire at the time to be so much more elegant than our 2024/2025 U.S. athleisurewear, and appreciated that women artists were included in the show (as they were in real life in 1874, albeit rarely). Since the buildings of Paris are timeless and were built to last, this show also captures some of the modern-day spirit of the city.
Watch the YouTube trailer for the show HERE and immerse yourself in its beauty.
Read much more about the show HERE,including more details on the featured artists. And visit Excurio, too.
If you prefer to learn about ancient Egypt instead of – or in addition to – the Impressionists, read our review of Horizon of Kufu HERE to glean how incredible this VR immersion is as well.
All of the Pertinent Details:
Duration: 45 minutes
Hours: Extended holiday hours all week long / Tuesday-Friday: 12:00pm – 8:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am – 9:00pm / Sunday: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Location: 555 West 57th St, New York, NY 10019
Age requirement: Children must be 8+ years old with a minimum height of 4’6″
Pricing: HERE
Accessibility: the venue is ADA-compliant. As this is a 45-minute walking expedition in virtual reality, it is not recommended for individuals with limited balance stability. Walkers and canes are not allowed.
