Road Show

San Francisco's de Young Museum is currently presenting a major collection of Impressionist works on loan from a French museum. The exhibition, Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay, lists the Bank of America as a Presenting Partner. Of course, the Musée d'Orsay itself is also thanked for their loan of the works in this show. The Musée d'Orsay is a national museum under the authority of the French Ministry of Culture. Employees of the museum work for the government, and their operating budget is part of the overall national support system for the arts. The idea of an exhibition of major works from France coming to the U.S. is not necessarily new (the Mona Lisa visited Washington D.C. in the 1960s), but the presence of this exhibition actually operates on several levels. First, the French Ministry of Culture has recently demonstrated an enhanced commitment to bringing collections of French art to other countries. Part of the goal is to offer people a chance to appreciate works they might not otherwise have the opportunity see in person. The project also promotes “soft diplomacy,” the export of French tradition and values to other nations. There are opportunities around exhibitions such as this to celebrate French culture in general, with special lectures, dining events, and so forth. Like the U.S. State Department, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is always looking for ways to promote its values and influence. Traveling art shows are sometimes more than they might seem at first glance: they present masterpieces from the history of French art while furthering the goals of the French government's mission to broaden the reach and impact of French culture.