The Rebellious Curator

Consider the following preview of an art show..

"These so-called artists..a group of unfortunate creatures, afflicted with delusions of grandeur..they throw a few colours to the canvas at random, and then they sign the lot!"

A New York Times review of a 1996 show of abstract punk artists? No, these were the words by the critic Albert Wolff to vilify the Impressionists more than 200 years ago. Today, the work of the Impressionists are considered so mainstream, that reproductions of them are strewn throughout hallways and airport lounges across the globe. 

In the words of Paul Durand-Ruel, the dealer who championed the Impressionists in the 19th century:

"Art which is in fashion always sells more easily than works by really great painters who are least understood by the public."

Durand-Ruel helped the world to understand the Impressionists, and in the process, became one of the most powerful and successful dealers of his time. To follow in his footsteps, a dealer today needs to be willing to take the same risks, to hang canvases "with a few colours thrown on them" and explain to a client why they are worthwhile.