Salon des Refusés

The Salon des Refusés, meaning "Exhibition of Rejects," was an art exhibition held in Paris in 1863 to showcase works that had been rejected by the prestigious Salon, the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Initiated by Emperor Napoleon III in response to public outcry over the rejected artworks, it featured pieces by innovative artists like Édouard Manet and Paul Gauguin. The event challenged traditional artistic standards and opened the door for modern art movements, highlighting the evolving nature of artistic expression and the ongoing tension between convention and innovation.