"This reminds me of Monet's creation of 'Impression, Sunrise' from the window, keenly grasping the rising sun, the moment it rose from the port fog. This gave me a very good feeling about the future," the curator said.

As soon as Mathieu finished her quarantine period on Sept 15, she devoted herself to preparing the exhibition. She checked every detail and personally assisted in placing the French national treasure in the center of the u-shaped exhibition hall.

"As a curator, you must come to the scene and personally lay the narrative lines of the exhibition. This is not only out of responsibility for the exhibits, but also out of respect for the audience," Mathieu said.

"Impression, Sunrise" was created in 1872, and according to Mathieu, it represented a new departure in the world of art, having a subversive impact on French painting.

The exhibition is scheduled to last from Sept 16 to Jan 3, 2021.