Pierre Puvis de Chavannes was a revered and influential artist in his time and a crucial figure in the transition from 19th-century academic painting to modern art. However for much of the 20th century his contributions were somewhat overshadowed by the popularity of the Impressionists whose vibrant colors drew more interest. While Impressionism made it's living on capturing fleeting moments of natural light and everyday life, Puvis took a more contemplative approach.

Known for his large-scale murals featuring simplified forms, subdued colors, and symbolic themes, Puvis broke from the detailed realism of his time. He emphasized mood, allegory and abstraction, qualities that had a big influence on artists like Paul Gauguin and Georges Seurat. His minimalist approach helped lay the foundation for early abstraction and Symbolism, marking a significant step toward the modernist movements that would follow.

It wasn't until the 2002 exhibition Toward Modern Art at Palazzo Grassi that Puvis's role in the development of modernism was fully recognized. The exhibition's catalogue underscored how his innovative use of form and symbolism challenged the conventions of academic art and anticipated the ideas that would shape early 20th-century modernism, cementing his legacy as an important figure in this evolution.