Chilean visual artists in Paris: experiences and critical reception in the Salons of the Society of French Artists and the National Society of Fine Arts (1866-1914)

Abstract

This article analyses catalogues, personal letters, and reviews by critics, in particular, to reconstruct the participation and critical reception of the forty Chilean visual artists in the Paris Salon between 1866 and 1914. As it was the exhibition and competitive space with the greatest international influence in this period, Chilean artists aspired to participate in the Salon. On one hand, being allowed to exhibit their work in the Salon meant artists would gain relevance in Chile and justify potential state support. On the other, their participation was a significant personal experience and a confirmation of the importance of the Salon. In this sense, the position and participation of Chileans took place within a network of global relations that invite us to rethink the relationship between the centre and the periphery.