"Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe" was first exhibited in Louis Latouche's art gallery, and was in the collection of the opera singer Jean-Baptiste Faure for a time. It was exhibited at the 1900 exhibition of Monet's works at the Durand-Ruel gallery. On seeing it at the 1900 Exposition Universelle, Alexandre Benois described it as "perhaps Monet's most brilliant work" and "one of the most beautiful [works] of the entire 20th century".