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LoginModern Art (1900–1959)
Modern art refers to a broad movement that emerged towards the close of the nineteenth century and the onset of the twentieth, during a period that saw profound cultural, social and political transformations on a global scale. These transformations resulted in the emergence of multiple artistic modernities.
In the province of Quebec, artists articulated their desire to break with established traditions through approaches that privileged spontaneity and the search for new means of expression. These approaches led to an in-depth and far-reaching shift in aesthetic forms and conventions. The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec invites you to explore this artistic revolution.
With a focus on art from Quebec created between 1900 and 1959, our modern art collection features an extensive range of artistic practices and expressions, from sculptures by Suzanne Guité to paintings by Paul-Émile Borduas, Jori Smith, Alfred Pellan and Jeanne Rhéaume, as well as photographs by Maurice Perron. In addition, we are home to the world's most extensive collection of Jean Paul Riopelle's works, which will be on display in the forthcoming Espace Riopelle.
Our collection encompasses not only iconic works of abstract art, but also pieces that reflect the social, political and cultural currents that helped shape modernity. Produced in the context of a Quebec in mutation, the works in our collection equally address societal issues such as urbanization, industrialization and the dynamics of modern life. Ghitta Caiserman's La Grève is one outstanding example in this regard.
Our Museum stands out for its collection, which showcases modern art from Quebec in all its complexity. You will discover daring artistic experiments, a clear break with the traditions inherited from the past, and the affirmation of an independent cultural identity. Offering an inclusive and pluralist panorama, our collection highlights the wealth of artistic practices from Quebec, where modern art draws its strength from the diversity of human perspectives and experiences.
The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, with its collection of modern art, is the site that provides a comprehensive insight into the manifold history, culture and identity of Quebec. It is your ideal venue for understanding and reflecting on the very essence of modern art from Quebec.
In the spotlight
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Coq licorne
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Clovis Kernizan
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Jean Paul Riopelle et sa sculpture
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Le Chercheur d'espace
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Chatterie
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Forestine
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Portrait de femme
Curator
Anne-Marie Bouchard
Anne-Marie Bouchard was awarded a Ph. D. in art history from Université de Montréal in 2009. She was a lecturer at the same university from 2007 to 2014 and specializes in the history and theory of visual culture and photography from 1850 to 1950. From 2010 to 2014, she was a Government of Québec postdoctoral fellow at Université Laval, and a Government of Canada postdoctoral fellow at McGill University and Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris 2). She has taught, published, and spoke at various events in North America and Europe.
Since 2014, she has been the curator of modern art at the MNBAQ, where she has curated numerous exhibitions, including 1950. Québec Through the Eyes of American Photojournalist Lida Moser, A Private Passion. Modern Art in Québec from the Pierre Lassonde Collection, and 350 Years of Artistic Practices in Quebec , a large-scale redeployment of the ancient and modern art collections featuring almost 700 works in five chronologically themed rooms.
In 2022, she coordinated the acquisition and exhibition of the collection of Paul-Émile Borduas paintings donated by major donors Michael J. Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa. In 2024, she co-curated with Sarah Milroy the exhibitions Generations. The Sobey Family and Canadian Art and River of Dreams. Impressionism on the St. Lawrence produced by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. She edited the publication Helen McNicoll. An Impressionist Journey at the MNBAQ.
She completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2025.
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