Famous art in Paris: 10 artworks you don’t want to miss

If you’re an art lover keen to discover the world’s most renowned art pieces, Paris is probably at the very top of your itinerary. From seeing “Mona Lisa” and “Liberty Leading the People” hung up proudly in the Louvre and immersing yourself in Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies” at the Musée de l’Orangerie to contemplating the questions of conceptual art when standing before Marcel Duchamp’s “Fontaine,” there is so much famous art in Paris that it would take you weeks to tick every art piece off your list.

So, where do you begin? Which artworks in Paris’s best art museums are an absolute must-see? Let’s find out.

Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci

Where to see it

Louvre Museum

It’s probably no surprise that “Mona Lisa,” one of the most famous paintings in Paris and the entire world, is at the top of the list. Painted at the beginning of the 16th century by Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance icon known for his brilliant use of the sfumato technique, “Mona Lisa” is veiled in mystery. There’s the smile that no one can quite decipher. Then there are her eyes, which seem to follow you wherever you go. And let’s not forget the mysterious nature of the model’s identity, not to mention the underpaintings that hide beneath the surface. To experience “Mona Lisa” for yourself, go to The Salle des États, where the painting is housed in a protective case.

Address

Musée du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France

Opening hours

Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 AM–9:00 PM
Closed Tuesdays

Starry Night Over the Rhône, Vincent van Gogh

Where to see it

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d’Orsay, one of the best museums to visit in Paris, houses an impressive collection of Vincent van Gogh’s work, including “Starry Night Over the Rhône.” It’s an excellent example of van Gogh’s early experimentation with night effects and light reflections before he painted the world-famous “The Starry Night.” Analyze the romantic and serene atmosphere of the painting, take an up-close look at van Gogh’s thick brushwork, and compare it to the turbulent mood of “The Starry Night.” Van Gogh’s work can be found on the upper level in Salle 36.

Address

Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 75007 Paris, France

Opening hours

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:30 AM–6:00 PM
Thursday, 9:30 AM–9:45 PM
Closed Mondays

Impression, Sunrise, Claude Monet

Where to see it

Musée Marmottan Monet

Dating to 1872, “Impression, Sunrise” by Monet plays a central role in Impressionism. In fact, it’s what it was named after — originally a sarcastic jab from a journalist, the term soon found its footing as a revolutionary movement that made history. Here, Monet manages to capture a fleeting moment by using quick, loose brush strokes to evoke mood and atmosphere, making the painting seem more like a memory rather than a realistic depiction of reality. “Impression, Sunrise” is part of the largest collection of Monet’s work in the world, so take your time exploring what Musée Marmottan Monet has to offer.

Address

2 Rue Louis Boilly, 75016 Paris, France

Opening hours

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Thursday, 10:00 AM–9:00 PM
Closed Mondays

With the Black Arch, Vassily Kandinsky

Where to see it

Centre Pompidou

Centre Pompidou is one of those places in Paris you simply can’t miss, especially if you’re an art lover. Whilst there, remember to visit the “Arts Plastiques – Moderne” collection to view “With the Black Arch” (“Mit dem schwarzen Bogen”), a masterpiece of abstract art. Kandinsky is believed to have had synesthesia — he could experience colors when listening to music — and this led him to play around with color and form in the land of the abstract. Observe the painting as if it were a piece of music and focus on feeling rather than narrative to let it resonate with you on an emotional level.

Address

Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France

Opening hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Thursday, 11:00 AM–11:00 PM
Closed Tuesdays

Portrait de Dora Maar 1937, Pablo Picasso

Where to see it

Picasso Museum Paris

Interested in discovering famous Cubism in Paris? Look no further — the Picasso Museum holds the world’s largest collection of Picasso’s work, including the iconic “Portrait de Dora Maar,” a depiction of Picasso’s lover and muse who documented the creation of the renowned “Guernica.” Here, Dora’s face is portrayed from a frontal and profile view simultaneously, and she is fractured into geometric patterns, showcasing a classic Cubist approach. During your visit, compare the painting to other depictions of Dora Maar as well as Picasso’s various masterpieces.

Address

5 Rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris, France

Opening hours

Tuesday–Sunday, 9:30 AM–6:00 PM
Closed Mondays

Liberty Leading the People, Eugène Delacroix

Where to see it

Louvre Museum

“Liberty Leading the People” from 1830 is one of the most essential artworks to see in Paris due to its historical significance as a commemoration of the July Revolution of 1830, when the people of France overthrew King Charles X. A masterpiece of Romanticist art, Delacroix captures passionate street fighters in a heroic, mythical light, symbolizing the power of resistance against tyranny. You can find the art piece amongst some of the largest paintings in the Louvre in Les Salles Rouges.

Address

Musée du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France

Opening hours

Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 AM–9:00 PM
Closed Tuesdays

Fontaine, Marcel Duchamp

Where to see it

Centre Pompidou

You might look at this piece of art and think it’s nothing but a urinal. Interestingly enough, though, Duchamp’s “Fontaine” revolutionized contemporary art, sparking discussions on what art is, what parameters it should adhere to (if any), and what role an artist plays in the production process. “Fontaine” essentially opened the door to conceptual art, which revolves around the idea that concepts — rather than objects — matter most. A 1964 replica of the 1917 original is usually on display in the “Arts Plastiques — Moderne” collection.

Address

Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France

Opening hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Thursday, 11:00 AM–11:00 PM
Closed Tuesdays

The Thinker, Auguste Rodin

Where to see it

Musée Rodin

Sitting in the sculpture garden of the Musée Rodin, where Rodin once lived, “The Thinker” is an iconic statue representing philosophy, introspection, and the power of the human intellect. Study the sculpture from up close to notice that the figure’s muscles are tense, suggesting an active, rather than passive, pose, and that the rough textures make the man seem alive, breaking away from the polished surfaces associated with classical sculpture. “The Thinker” is dynamic and intense yet vulnerable and human, and this oxymoron is what makes the sculpture so powerful.

Address

77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France

Opening hours

Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:30 PM
Closed Mondays

Bal du moulin de la Galette, Auguste Renoir

Where to see it

Musée d'Orsay

Shown at a 1877 Impressionist exhibition, “Bal du moulin de la Galette” counts as one of Renoir’s most important works. What’s more, it’s peak Impressionism — using loose brush strokes and vibrant colors, Renoir creates a scene that feels almost like a memory, suggesting a fleeting moment filled with joy, companionship, and movement. Notice how Renoir uses light, which appears to be filtered by the trees, to bring the dancing crowd alive before your eyes. Find “Bal du moulin de la Galette” in Salle 30.

Address

Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 75007 Paris, France

Opening hours

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:30 AM–6:00 PM
Thursday, 9:30 AM–9:45 PM
Closed Mondays

Water Lilies (Nymphéas), Claude Monet

Where to see it

Musée de l'Orangerie

An article on famous art in Paris wouldn’t be complete without the immersive masterpiece that is “Water Lilies” at the Musée de l’Orangerie. Here, Monet’s famous depictions of lilies are hung up in oval rooms, making you feel as if you’ve stepped right into the image itself. Since there is no fixed perspective, the observer becomes part of the environment, blending in with the atmosphere that shifts from painting to painting. “Water Lilies” was a major project for Monet, and the first two panels he created were given to the nation of France as a symbol of peace.

Address

Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris, France

Opening hours

Wednesday–Monday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Closed Tuesdays