This landmark exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is the first devoted to the fascinating career of Berthe Weill (1865-1951), a nearly forgotten figure whose vision as a trailblazing Paris gallery owner helped shape the future of modern art .

A close-up view of a woman reading a book in front of a vase filled with colorful flowers against a blue background, showcasing the artwork by Marc Chagall. — Marc Chagall (1887-1995) Bella in Mourillon, 1926, oil on canvas, 46 x 65 cm via MMFA

Weill was the first woman to focus primarily on championing young painters just as they were beginning their careers. She supported and exhibited many of the greats of modern art: Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani, Diego Rivera, Henri Matisse and Suzanne Valadon, and many others.

A nude woman reclining on a bed, depicted in soft, warm tones with a necklace around her neck, showcasing the style of modern art. — Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) *Nude with a Coral Necklace*, 1917 via MMFA

Among the nearly 100 works presented in the exhibition, some have become milestones in the history of art, while others are the work of still unsung figures, including women artists.

Two women sitting on a bench in a park, wearing vintage clothing and hats, engaged in conversation. — Berthe Weill and friend via Berthe Weill Archive.

A portrait of Berthe Weill, a notable art dealer, standing in a gallery surrounded by various picture frames and bookshelves. — Berthe Weill and friend via Berthe Weill Archive.

Featuring exceptional loans from major museums in Europe and North America, the exhibition brings together paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, jewellery pieces, and archival documents that testify to the quality of Weill’s gallery and the importance of its historical context.

A vibrant landscape painting featuring colorful trees and rolling hills, with a blue sky and colorful mountains in the background. — André Derain, *Landscape by the Sea: The Côte d’Azur near Agay*, 1905, oil on canvas, 54.6 x 65 cm **via MMFA**

Weill was passionate, outspoken and a visionary during the nearly four decades she ran the Galerie B. Weill (1901-1941). The exhibition highlights the remarkable achievements of this indomitable businesswoman who overcame sexism and anti-Semitism to preserve her freedom and autonomy.

Restoring her rightful place

“This exhibition marks the culmination of 15 years of research,” says Marianne Le Morvan, guest curator and founder of the Berthe Weill Archives. “At long last, Berthe Weill is receiving her due – a vindication made possible through a striking selection of works that once passed through her hands. These pieces restore her rightful place among the world’s great art dealers after half a century of her languishing in obscurity.”

Painting of a lively gathering in a dimly lit venue with elegantly dressed people mingling, featuring women in fashionable hats and men in top hats, capturing the vibrancy of early 20th-century nightlife. — Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), *Le Moulin de la Galette*, 1900, oil on canvas, 89.7 x 116.8 cm via MMFA

Conceived in collaboration with the Grey Art Museum, New York University, and the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris, the exhibition boasts exceptional loans from major European and North American museums, some of which will be shown exclusively at the Montreal presentation.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts exhibition website, here.

About Berthe Weill, here.

Painting featured at the top of this post:
Raoul Dufy (1877-1953) Thirty Years, or La Vie en Rose, 1931, oil on canvas, 98 x 108 cm. via MMFA