This month, Paris’ art world will throng to two key gatherings — the FIAC contemporary art fair at the Porte de Versailles (Oct 24-28) and the “Nocturnes de la Rive Droite” — the Right Bank’s annual Veuve Clicquot champagne-sponsored art and antique dealers “street party” (Oct 9). Beyond these festive events, the fall/winter season kicks off with several major exhibitions....

Max Beckmann, un peintre dans l’histoire (1884-1951) A major retrospective of paintings, drawings and sculptures by one of Germany’s foremost Expressionists. Initially alluding to war and exile, his work later sought refuge in poetry and myths.To Jan 1, daily except Tue, 11am to 9pm, Pompidou Center, pl Georges Pompidou, 4e, M° Rambuteau, tel: 01 44 78 12 33

Matisse-Picasso Via over 100 paintings and sculptures — this exhibition explores the “fraternité artistique” linking Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse..To Jan 1, daily except Tue (10am to 7:15pm), Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, av Winston-Churchill, 8e, M° Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau, tel: 01 44 13 17 17

De Caillebotte à Picasso is drawn from the prestigious Geneva-based Oscar Ghez Collection. Beginning with major Impressionist works by Caillebote, this varied overview ranges from Manet to Man Ray. Oct 15 to June 15, 10am to 6pm, Musée Jacquemart-André, 158 bd Haussmann, 8e, M° St-Augustin, tel: 01 45 62 11 59

Manet... Velasquez... A thematic show examining the influence of 19th century Spanish artists on the work of Manet and other French painters. To Jan 1, 2003, daily except Mon, 10am to 6pm, Musée D’Orsay, 1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 7e, M° Solferino, tel: 01 40 49 48 1

L’Affiche Chinoise traces the history of Chinese poster art starting with rare pre-revolutionary images and documenting the emergence of propaganda during the Mao years. To Jan. 12, Musée de la Publicité, 107 rue de Rivoli, 1er, tel:. 01 44 55 57 93

Swiss artist Peter Stämpfli’s Pop Art canvases are to be seen in Paris for the first time since 1980. Includes his “signature” images of isolated cars... Oct 22 to Jan 5. Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, pl de la Concorde, 1er. tel: 01 47 03 12 50

Les Maîtres de la Lumière highlights 60 paintings from the Irvine Museum collection. All fine examples of early modern plein-air landscape paintings from California.To Dec 14, Mona Bismarck Foundation, 34 av de New York, 16e, tel: 01 47 23 38 88

Les Fleurs du Graal focuses on modern Impressionist painter, Max Agostini. A feast of lavender fields, gardens and bouquets. To Dec 14, 9.30am to 7pm, Galerie Martin-Caille Matignon, 75 rue du faubourg. St.-Honoré, 8e, tel: 01 42 66 60 71

Ménilmontant Open Studios. Works by over 130 artists living in this creative, multicultural neighborhood are on view in their studios — as well as in local theaters, cafés and restaurants..Oct 4 to 7, 2-9pm. Maps and information: 40-42 rue des Panoyaux, 20e, M° Ménilmontant, M° Père Lachaise, tel: 01 46 36 4717

Compiled by Tom Braithwaite