Exclusive to the Queensland Art Gallery, 'American Impressionism and Realism: A Landmark Exhibition from the Met' presents 71 paintings by 34 artists from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Among them are some of the Met's best examples of painting in the American Impressionist and Realist traditions, which have never before been displayed together outside their home in New York. 

Leading figures — such as Impressionists John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, and William Merritt Chase, and Realists John Sloan and William Glackens — are represented by several works. The exhibition considers how proponents of two styles that flourished around 1900 responded to modern life and to the era's perplexing novelties. Often saturated with light and colour, these paintings are also rich with meaning.

Highlighting how Australian artists responded to key artistic developments of the time, more than 30 iconic Australian paintings are also be included in the exhibition, by artists such as Tom Roberts, Charles Conder, Frederick McCubbin and Rupert Bunny.

'American Impressionism and Realism' includes light-filled landscapes and seascapes, magnificent portraiture and images that reflect aspects of modern life — leisure, cities, and intimate depictions of women and children.

The exhibition is organised by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in collaboration with the Queensland Art Gallery and Art Exhibitions Australia.