Masters of art converge in Washington, DC

In Washington, DC, masterpieces by Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Matisse, and Chagall make the U.S. capital a must-see art destination.

Beyond its political reputation, the American capital reveals a vibrant cultural scene. Inside the National Gallery of Art, visitors encounter treasures spanning centuries — including Leonardo da Vinci’s only painting permanently displayed in the United States, the renowned “Ginevra de’ Benci.”

Painted around 1474, the portrait of a young Florentine noblewoman demonstrates Da Vinci’s mastery of technique and psychology long before the Mona Lisa. The work’s enigmatic expression and scientific precision draw admirers from around the world.

Nearby galleries showcase the intensity of Van Gogh, the vivid freedom of Matisse, and the dreamlike poetics of Chagall. Each room feels like a passage through time — from post-impressionist color storms to floating figures that defy gravity.

The museum’s collection also features Monet, Cézanne, and Degas, whose works balance emotion and form, and breakthrough modernists like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, whose canvases transformed abstraction into pure emotion.

Beyond the National Gallery, the Smithsonian American Art Museum highlights the diversity of U.S. creativity, while the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden stands as a global hub for modern and contemporary art. Together, these institutions offer a richly accessible — often free — artistic journey from the Renaissance to the digital era.

To explore DC’s museums is to witness centuries of creativity unfolding before your eyes — an invitation not just to admire art, but to rediscover the act of seeing.

Photo: Press Release