Candidates for Admission to the Paris Salon 1870 - 1909

Felicien Myrbach-Rheinfeld made this drawing titled, "Candidates for Admission to the Paris Salon," using graphite on paper. It depicts what exactly the title suggests; artwork submitted to the Paris Salon. The Paris Salon was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Because of the academy's tight grip on the standards for art making, the Salon became an important annual event. From the mid-1700s it was *the* place to achieve recognition. Myrbach-Rheinfeld emphasizes a key aspect of the Salon: the sheer volume of submissions. Artworks stand stacked in long, receding rows. The vast space reminds us that most of these works will be rejected. The two men inspecting the artworks seem dwarfed by the scale of artistic production. To fully understand this drawing, we need to consider the Salon's historical context. Access to the Salon was a key social and economic determinant for artists during this period. By studying archival documents from the Académie des Beaux-Arts, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped the production and reception of art in France.