He is undoubtedly one of the most important and daring figures of 18th-century France. To mark the 300th anniversary of his birth, the Petit Palais is paying tribute to this painter of portraits and genre scenes, who knew more than anyone else how to translate the human soul. This exhibition invites visitors to rediscover Greuze's work through the prism of a central theme in his painting: childhood. Echoing the preoccupations of the philosophers Diderot, Rousseau and Condorcet, the artist invites us to reflect on the place of the child within the family, the responsibility of parents in the child's development, and the importance of education in shaping the child's personality. With empathy, the artist questions the place of children in 18th-century society, their future and their emancipation. He mirrors the major issues of his time. He also examines the transition to adulthood and the birth of love. Using the codes of his time, he tackles the theme of consent, which is strikingly topical today. Bringing together around a hundred paintings, drawings and prints from all over the world, this exhibition is an opportunity to rediscover the singular work of this major artist of the Age of Enlightenment.
Scientific curators
- Annick Lemoine, General Curator of Heritage, Director of the Petit Palais
- Yuriko Jackall, Director of the Department of European Art & Allan and Elizabeth Shelden Curator of European Paintings, Detroit Institute of Arts
- Mickaël Szanto, Senior Lecturer, Sorbonne University
The exhibition is made possible thanks to the generous support of:
- Mireille and Hubert Goldschmidt
- Lionel Sauvage
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The Petit Palais would like to thank its partner for colouring the exhibition: 
The publication of the catalogue was made possible thanks to the support of the Wolfgang Ratjen Foundation, the Auguste and Victoire Morin Foundation, Daniel Thierry and 