The Orangerie Museum: Modern Art in Bloom
Discover the Orangerie Museum, where two stories of modern art unfold in one space. In light-filled oval rooms, Claude Monet’s Water Lilies surround you with shifting skies, reflections, and cycles of time. Downstairs, the Walter-Guillaume collection reveals Paris as a crucible of change, from Picasso’s fractured bodies to Soutine’s turbulent visions and Matisse’s patterned odalisques. This tour speaks to art lovers, casual visitors, and anyone curious about how painting evolved through upheaval and imagination. You’ll leave with a sharper sense of how modern art redefined what it means to see.
Created by Anne-Marie Carter
Anne-Marie Carter, a Paris-based guide by way of London, combines her background as a historian and former fashion journalist to craft tours that explore the rich intersections of fashion, culture, and history. With an insider’s knowledge of Parisian haute couture and a storyteller’s flair, she uncovers the threads that weave Paris’s artistic, cultural, and sartorial legacy, offering an elegant and engaging dive into the soul of the city.
"What a unique experience! I never knew the Orangerie had such deep connections to artists like Soutine and Picasso. It was insightful to see their works together. Highly recommend!" - Marcus C.
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What you'll walk and learn about
Orangerie Museum
From greenhouse to art museum
First Monet’s Waterlilies Room
A meditative respite from the busy city
Second Water Lillies Room
Admire the paintings in the second oval room
Picasso’s Nude on a Red Background
Unmasking the inspirations of modern art
Utrillo’s La Maison Bernot
Postcard painting or radical vision?
Derain’s portrait ‘The Niece of the Painter’
A candid moment on canvas
Matisse’s Odalisque
A vibrant interpretation of an old theme
Laurencin’s The Spanish Dancers
Isn’t it too dreamy?
Soutine’s ‘The Turkey’
Twisted shapes for a tormented century
Derain’s Portrait of Madame Guillaume in a large hat
Muse or murderer?
Derain’s Arlequin et Pierrot
A secret portrait of the collector himself
Picasso’s Woman with a Tambourine
A Cubist vision of the human body
Modigliani’s Portrait of Paul Guillaume
The ‘New Pilot’ of 20th century art
Grand Finale
Cultivating the future of art
"I didn’t expect to be so moved by Soutine's work. The way they captured emotions is unreal."
"Very easy to follow, nice to pause and have pictures, very calming voice, good music and great explanations for people who are art novices "
"The Orangerie was a great find, so much history and art! Monet's vision is truly captivating."
"The tour was organized well and gave me a whole new appreciation for modern art. Definitely worth it!"