Discovering Bourdelle: The Charm of the Atelier Museum in Paris
There is a museum in Paris, located on Antoine Bourdelle Street, dedicated to the artist of the same name – it’s an atelier museum. Perhaps out of pure ignorance, I had never heard of this sculptor, a disciple of Rodin. My visit happened by chance, as on the first Sunday of every month, several museums in Paris offer free admission. This was one of them and, luckily, it didn’t even require booking a ticket in advance.
It was a pleasant surprise. The museum, in addition to housing an incredible collection of the artist’s sculptures scattered throughout rooms and three gardens, also has the studio where Bourdelle worked for 40 years. And this is exactly where the charm of the museum lies for me – I love museums that allow me to truly step into the artist’s life (house museums are my favorite type of museum). I can let my imagination run wild as I walk through those rooms, picturing an artist in full action, with frustrations and successes, experiencing moments of pure fulfillment and others of despair and the urge to abandon everything.
One of my favorite parts, besides the artist’s studio, was the corridor displaying several head sculptures representing different types of emotion. It’s really striking and shows a contrast between raw emotions and tranquility, as all the heads are facing a large glass window overlooking one of the gardens.
Another interesting point is all the lives that have passed through this one place, the many other apprentices who came there seeking to become sculptors themselves. One of the rooms is dedicated to them, filled with letters from apprentices from around the world, which helps paint a clear picture of how active that place once was.
Actually, it still is. This museum remains a working studio to this day, offering sculpture workshops for everyone from toddlers to adults. This place remains alive, continuing to allow art to follow its endless flow, not only showcasing the work of an incredible sculptor but also continuing the work of his life.
When you go to Paris, step off the beaten path of famous museums and give the unexpected a chance. This museum is well worth a visit.
