Oh, Those Short-Sighted Critics

Art critic Albert Wolff, writing in 1876 about the new art movement, Impressionism (Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt), at the Second Impressionist Exhibition:

"The rue Le Peletier is out of luck. After the burning down of the Opera, here is a new disaster which has struck the district. An exhibition, said to be of painting, has just opened at the gallery of Durand-Ruel. The harmless passer-by, attracted by the flags which decorate the facade, goes in and is confronted by a cruel spectacle. Five or six lunatics, one of them a woman, an unfortunate group struck by the mania of ambition, have met to exhibit their works. Some people split their sides with laughter when they see these things, but I feel heartbroken. These so-called artists call themselves intransigeants, "Impressionists." They take the canvas, paints and brushes, fling something on at random and hope for the best."