PARIS— Between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries, France led the world as a center of art, and of painting in particular. Indeed, the country's very image has become indelibly associated with the painters who lived and worked there during this period: the Impressionists camped out along the Seine or on Normandy beaches; Van Gogh slowly going mad under the scorching Provençal sun; Picasso, Gris, and company making the leap to Cubism in tumbledown Montmartre studios; or the Surrealists dreaming up their disturbing visions in Montparnasse cafés. While the country’s pre-eminence in artistic creation may have since been lost, its art exhibitions have never been stronger, and this winter season is particularly rich in first-class painting shows. Just about every period from the early Renaissance to the postwar era is covered, with several artists who have been long ignored in France finally getting the attention they deserve. Here are five of the best offerings.

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