Figures du fou, du Moyen Âge aux Romantiques, musée du Louvre

 

Foolishly I went Sunday afternoon to the Louvre 

When it is crowded like a madhouse.

Even more foolishly, I did not follow the signs ➡️ I climbed on the escalator with the rest of the sheep 🐑 🐑🐑 and had to backtrack down to the ground floor exhibition.

I usually go on weekdays when it’s less crowded. 

Or on Friday nights, when the Louvre is open till 9:45  pm

 When most sane people are out dining 🍽️ & dancing 💃 

I went to do a little research 🔬 for Elaine Sciolino’s new book, Adventures in The Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum, coming out April 1, 2025. As usual, I’ll be doing a drawing ✍️ for her book tour etc.

Anyhoo not a good idea to go on the first Sunday of the month when all Paris museums are free. 

*You still need to reserve a time slot online ahead of time (ever since the Olympics).

While I was looking for ideas & inspiration, I dropped into the Figures du Fou/Figures of the Fools exhibit,

What with all the shenanigans we’ve been going through the last few months…it seemed appropriate. 

‘Over the course of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the fool came to occupy every available artistic space, insinuating himself into illuminated manuscripts, printed books and engravings, 

Tapestries, paintings, sculptures, and all manner of objects both precious and mundane. 

His fascinating, perplexing and subversive figure loomed large in the turmoil of an era not so different from our own’.

This visitor was definitely in keeping with the spirit of the exhibit wearing a hair roller on her head.

A very silly Medieval towel holder…

I wouldn’t have thought this exhibit would draw such a crowd..

“Ah…”What fools these mortals be” 

Thank you Puck 😂

While many of us fools are holding our breath awaiting tomorrow’s outcome…

Perhaps contemplating the Seine is a better idea..?

Or contemplate some Paris 🥐 Letters in my Etsy shop?