Brooklyn Museum to Showcase Modernist Treasures in Autumn Lineup
Throughout his lifetime, Henry Pearlman cultivated a profound admiration for Impressionist and post-Impressionist artwork. His art assemblage, gathered over thirty years with his spouse Rose, features pieces ranging from serene landscapes by Vincent Van Gogh to atmospheric portraits by Édouard Manet. This autumn, art lovers in New York will have the chance to engage with this prominent collection directly.
Launching on October 2, 2026, at the Brooklyn Museum, the exhibit “Cézanne to Modigliani” will present more than 50 modern European pieces from the Pearlman Collection. Contrary to its name, the exhibit will not be confined to works by Paul Cézanne and Amedeo Modigliani. Rather, it will display a varied selection of paintings, sculptures, watercolors, and drawings. A standout of the exhibition is Chaïm Soutine’s “View of Céret,” a work that first ignited Pearlman’s enduring fascination with modernism. Crafted between 1921 and 1922, the painting offers an abstract, expressionist interpretation of the town of Céret in southern France, depicted with an earthy color scheme.
“This initial pleasurable encounter with a modern artwork set me on an adventurous path that has been both thrilling and rewarding,” Pearlman once remarked about another Soutine piece, “Village Square.” “I haven’t experienced a dull evening since that inaugural purchase.”
“Cézanne to Modigliani” not only honors modernists but the Pearlman Collection as well. The exhibition will delve into the personal narratives of the Pearlmans alongside the featured artwork, including photographs, letters, archival materials, and portraits of Henry created by artists such as Oskar Kokoschka and Jacques Lipchitz. The collection’s strong ties to Cézanne are also emphasized, with his landscapes, portraits, and particularly watercolors being vital to Pearlman’s curatorial intentions.
Several pieces from the exhibit will be incorporated into the Brooklyn Museum’s permanent collection following the conclusion of the show. Besides works by Gustave Courbet, Honoré Daumier, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, and Camille Pissarro, the exhibition includes two paintings by Modigliani. These portraits will represent the first Modigliani pieces in the museum’s collection, alongside a unique limestone bust by the artist. Under a “novel agreement,” these artworks will be shared with diverse audiences in different contexts throughout the museum’s partnerships with institutions like LACMA and MoMA, ensuring they remain consistently accessible to the public.
“The Pearlman Collection offers a remarkable array of modernist pieces, and we are delighted to provide our visitors in Brooklyn a final chance to view them collectively,” said Lisa Small, senior curator of European art at the Brooklyn Museum. “We are especially eager to showcase the works joining our collection and to commemorate a genuinely significant acquisition for our institution.”
“Cézanne to Modigliani: Gifts of Modern Art from the Pearlman Collection” will be open for viewing from October 2, 2026, to April 18, 2027, at the Brooklyn Museum.
This autumn, New Yorkers can closely experience works by modernist legends such as Cézanne, Courbet, Degas, Modigliani, and Van Gogh.
Exhibition Information:
Cézanne to Modigliani: Gifts of Modern Art from the Pearlman Collection
October 2, 2026– April 18, 2027
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238
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My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the Brooklyn Museum.