Faces of Artists, From Gustave Courbet to Annette Messager

Gustave Courbet made his own gaze a political and aesthetic weapon, opening the way to unprecedented introspection. The Petit Palais today highlights the art of portraiture and self-portraiture through a captivating dialogue across the eras. From the self-assertion of the classical masters to the contemporary staging of Annette Messager, the journey questions the place of the creator in their work. This exceptional selection, from the museum’s collections, offers an intimate face-to-face with those who marked the history of art. Between narcissism, a quest for identity, and social critique, each work reveals the backstage of creation and the metamorphoses of the ego. This artistic encounter takes place from March 18 to July 19, 2026, at the Petit Palais.