Running in the footsteps of the great painters: 8 cities that have shaped the history of art

From the workshops of the Italian Renaissance to the vast Mexican frescoes, cities have always been a source of inspiration for artists. Some have given rise to great masters, whilst others have become the cradle of new artistic movements or have attracted painters seeking fresh inspiration. For this new instalment of our ‘Running in the Footsteps of…’ series, JOOKS takes you across four continents to discover eight cities where the history of painting was written. From Florence to Montreal, via Amsterdam, Paris and Kyoto, lace up your trainers and set off to encounter the great names and works that have shaped the way we see the world.

Florence (Italy) – At the heart of the Renaissance

The rooftops of Florence, dominated by the Duomo, the timeless backdrop of the Renaissance

Our journey begins in Florence, where Western art underwent a major transformation from the 15th century onwards.

As the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, Florence attracted the greatest artists of their time thanks to the patronage of powerful families such as the Medici. Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael all contributed to this artistic revival, which placed the human being and the observation of the world at the heart of their works. The city still boasts an exceptional cultural heritage today, particularly at the Uffizi Gallery, which houses some of the masterpieces from this period. With JOOKS, explore the streets of Florence and discover the squares, palaces and churches that still bear witness to this golden age of art.

Amsterdam (Netherlands) – The Dutch Golden Age

The Rijksmuseum, a shrine to the Dutch Golden Age

A few decades later, the arts flourished in northern Europe, in Amsterdam, which had become one of the continent’s major economic and cultural centres.

In the 17th century, Dutch painters developed a style that paid particular attention to scenes of everyday life, landscapes, portraits and the play of light. Rembrandt became one of the leading figures of this period, whilst Vermeer revolutionised intimate painting. Two centuries later, another artist would leave a profound mark on the city’s image: Vincent van Gogh. Today, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum allow us to appreciate the significance of this artistic tradition. As you run through Amsterdam with JOOKS, discover the city that has seen several generations of great Dutch painters flourish.

Madrid (Spain) – The Masters of the Spanish Court

The majestic Royal Palace, a testament to the history of the great masters of Spanish painting

After Florence and Amsterdam, our journey takes us to Spain, where painting flourished, particularly under the patronage of the monarchy.

In Madrid, the Royal Palace and the court attracted the country’s most talented artists. Diego Velázquez thus became the official painter to Philip IV and produced portraits that rank amongst the masterpieces of the Spanish Golden Age. In the following century, Francisco de Goya in turn revolutionised Spanish painting, moving away from court portraits towards much darker and more personal works. The Prado Museum houses an impressive collection of their works, whilst the Reina Sofía offers visitors the chance to discover another facet of Spanish art, notably through the work of Picasso. With JOOKS, explore Madrid in the footsteps of these great masters.

Paris (France) – When painters leave the studio

The cobbled streets of Montmartre, a picturesque setting immortalised by Parisian artists

Following in the footsteps of the great masters, who were protected by the powerful, a new generation of artists sought to break free from convention: off to Paris, the artistic capital of the 19th century.

In the streets of Montmartre, along the banks of the Seine or in the cafés, painters and artists would gather and experiment with new ways of depicting the world. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet and their contemporaries revolutionised the conventions of painting and gave rise to Impressionism. Rather than seeking a perfectly realistic depiction, they were interested in the effects of light, colours and fleeting impressions. Today, the Musée d’Orsay houses one of the world’s most important collections of Impressionist art. With JOOKS, explore Paris and discover the places that fuelled this artistic revolution.

New York (United States) – The new capital of art

The distinctive façades of SoHo, the historic heart of New York’s art scene

In the 20th century, the artistic centre of gravity gradually shifted towards the United States, and New York became one of the world’s leading centres of creativity.

After the Second World War, the city saw the emergence of Abstract Expressionism, spearheaded in particular by Jackson Pollock, before becoming a playground for Pop Art with Andy Warhol. Later, Jean-Michel Basquiat made his mark with his raw and colourful style, both in galleries and on the streets of Manhattan. The Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum stand as a testament today to this incredible artistic effervescence. With JOOKS, explore New York through its neighbourhoods and avenues, where some of the most influential figures in contemporary American art crossed paths.

Mexico City (Mexico) – When art takes over the walls

The monumental murals at the Museo Vivo del Muralismo, symbols of socially conscious art in Mexico City

Following our explorations in New York, our journey takes us across the American continent to a city where artists have chosen to step out of the museums and take over public spaces directly.

In the 20th century, Mexico City became the heart of Mexican muralism, an artistic movement that transformed the walls of buildings into vast murals depicting the history and struggles of the Mexican people. Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros were among its leading figures. Painting thus became a means of making art accessible to all and of forging a national identity in the wake of the Mexican Revolution. Frida Kahlo, another towering figure in Mexican art, developed a deeply personal body of work. With JOOKS, discover a capital city where art can also be found on the streets.

Kyoto (Japan) – Masters of Japanese printmaking

Kyoto’s traditional wooden alleyways: a true living picture of ancient Japan

To discover a different approach to art, our journey leaves the American continent and crosses the Pacific to Japan, where a unique artistic tradition has developed over the centuries.

As a former imperial capital, Kyoto has long remained a major centre of Japanese culture. The art of ukiyo-e woodblock printing found a particularly favourable environment there, with works depicting landscapes, scenes from everyday life, theatre actors and beautiful women. Artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige helped to spread this aesthetic far beyond Japan’s borders and profoundly influenced 19th-century European painters. With JOOKS, explore the traditional streets of Kyoto and discover a city where art is expressed as much in woodblock prints as in architecture and gardens.

Montreal (Canada) – Art takes over the city

The giant Leonard Cohen mural on Crescent Street, a symbol of Montreal’s street art scene

The final stop on our journey, Montreal brings us back to the American continent, but into a resolutely contemporary artistic world where walls, in turn, become canvases.

For several decades now, Montréal has established itself as a particularly vibrant city in the field of urban art. Monumental murals, colourful wall paintings and street art are gradually transforming neighbourhoods and giving a new dimension to public spaces. The MURAL Festival, in particular, has helped to make the city a recognised destination for urban art. This contemporary movement echoes, in its own way, the Mexican muralism we encountered earlier in our journey: in both cases, art leaves the galleries to engage with passers-by. Join JOOKS as we explore Montreal and its open-air artworks.

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