Head to the Musée Marmottan Monet for a deep dive into the breathtaking world of I Want to See My Mountains, the must-see retrospective dedicated to Giovanni Segantini. Nicknamed the “Gauguin of the Alps,” this master of Divisionism and color is celebrated through 60 crystalline masterpieces. From raw self-portraits to maternal figures merging with untamed nature, the exhibition retraces the romantic destiny of a self-taught artist who painted the Alps’ most majestic peaks until his final breath in 1899. Tour.
An Artistic Ascent
© Return from the Forest – Rhododendron – Alpine Pastures
Conceived as a dialogue with Claude Monet’s work, I Want to See My Mountains pays tribute to Italian painter Giovanni Segantini’s career. From striking self-portraits to vibrant maternal figures, the exhibition unfolds like an ascent through the oeuvre of this self-taught artist—leading all the way to the summits of both the Alps and his career. The journey feels almost physical: the further you progress among the 60 masterpieces (including raw self-portraits and incredibly delicate pastels), the higher you climb. Highlights include Return from the Forest and Alpine Pastures, illustrating a shift from shadow to light, where human figures seem to merge with a wild, majestic nature.
It was at 2,837 meters above sea level, on Mount Schafberg, that Segantini passed away, brush in hand, while preparing his monumental triptych for the Paris World’s Fair. A tragic, romantic fate for an artist whose final words were a heartfelt cry: “I want to see my mountains” (Voglio vedere le mie montagne in the original Italian).
The Master of Divisionism
© Brown Cow at the Trough / The Fruit of Love / The Two Mothers
Segantini didn’t paint—he wove light. A true alchemist of color, the artist revolutionized his craft through Divisionism, carefully selecting the most luxurious pigments. Take, for instance, the golden ochre shimmering in the hair of the woman in The Fruit of Love. Here, there is no blending on the palette—just thousands of pure color strokes placed side by side, vibrating together. The result? Crystal-clear precision and an almost mystical atmosphere that elevates his favorite subjects, such as his many depictions of motherhood, where women and animals share a universal tenderness beneath sunlit mountains. Segantini captures the soul of the Alps with surgical precision and poetic intensity—enough to make even Claude Monet envious.
I Want to See My Mountains, from April 29 to August 16. Musée Marmottan Monet open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Also discover the most anticipated exhibitions of the spring and 5 free exhibitions to check out right now.
