The first Salon des Indépendants opened in Paris on February 25, 1884, founded by artists including Albert Dubois-Pillet, Odilon Redon, and Georges Seurat. Established as a reaction against the rigid selection committees of the official Paris Salon, this exhibition introduced the principle of 'no jury, no prizes,' allowing any artist to exhibit upon payment of a fee. The inaugural show featured works by Seurat, Signac, and Cross, marking a pivotal moment for the Neo-Impressionist movement and the broader avant-garde.
It permanently altered the exhibition landscape by democratizing access to the Paris art market and fostering the rise of modernist movements.
Artists involved
