History of the ’Museum of Montparnasse’
In 1951, the photographer Marc Veux, friend of all the painters of Montparnasse, created the first ’Museum of Montparnasse’, in the space at the end of the passage once occupied by the old ’Academy of painting’ guided by Marcel Gromaire and Despierre. Vaux created a collection of 250,000 photographic works of all the artists from the area. He exhibited many of these documents in his small Museum. The collection was dispersed after his death in 1971.
In May 1998, Roger Pic with Jean-Marie Drot founded the "Chemin du Montparnasse". A place of memory and cultural activity, this became the Musée of Montparnasse. Pic died in December 2001 and was succeeded by the current president, Jean Digne, in 2002.
The Museum is located in the center of an artist’s residence, surrounded by about thirty painters, architects, movie directors and producers, florist decorator, actors and archivists. These artists form a real community where a prestigious past and a promising future mix in an environment of an exceptional natural quality. The visitor has the possibility ‘to dive into’ temporary thematic exhibitions placed in this prestigious and historical location, one of the artistic hearths of Paris. The museum offers a friendly atmosphere. The visitor has the time to stay awhile in front of famous as well as less known works of art or the many original documents belonging to the families of artists. The visitor can read the detailed presentations with great interest, view documentary films presented in the context of exhibitions and attend poetry and musical events, a priori reserved for the Friends of the Museum.
In 2003, the Museum of Montparnasse was enriched by a foundation that presents the works of the sculptor Frans Krajcberg. Krajcberg divides his atelier between Brazil and the Avenue du Maine. ’Krajcberg’s Space’ with its original scenography including videos, photography and multimedia, presents an important reflection on the role of art in the ecological combat for survival, illuminating the essential relation between art and nature.
The exhibition program and all activities of the Museum of Montparnasse affirm its intentions to be open to the other cultures, to increase meetings for educational purposes both professional and casual, to invent new solutions for presenting projects, fostering a true culture of Montparnasse in relation with artists from all around the world and in correspondence with all the intercultural disciplines.
Jean Digne, the current president, along with the board members of the museum association, defends the ideal of the museum as an open place for the cultures of the world, promoting a greater understanding of what Montparnasse represents in the culture of the 21st century.
For this reason the ’Archive of Montparnasse’ was born, relying on existing donations as well as on those that will come to enrich it. The exhibitions present these unique and original documents, intimate glimpses into the past, lent by the families of artists, speaking to artistic creation of today.
In May 1998, Roger Pic with Jean-Marie Drot founded the "Chemin du Montparnasse". A place of memory and cultural activity, this became the Musée of Montparnasse. Pic died in December 2001 and was succeeded by the current president, Jean Digne, in 2002.
The Museum is located in the center of an artist’s residence, surrounded by about thirty painters, architects, movie directors and producers, florist decorator, actors and archivists. These artists form a real community where a prestigious past and a promising future mix in an environment of an exceptional natural quality. The visitor has the possibility ‘to dive into’ temporary thematic exhibitions placed in this prestigious and historical location, one of the artistic hearths of Paris. The museum offers a friendly atmosphere. The visitor has the time to stay awhile in front of famous as well as less known works of art or the many original documents belonging to the families of artists. The visitor can read the detailed presentations with great interest, view documentary films presented in the context of exhibitions and attend poetry and musical events, a priori reserved for the Friends of the Museum.
In 2003, the Museum of Montparnasse was enriched by a foundation that presents the works of the sculptor Frans Krajcberg. Krajcberg divides his atelier between Brazil and the Avenue du Maine. ’Krajcberg’s Space’ with its original scenography including videos, photography and multimedia, presents an important reflection on the role of art in the ecological combat for survival, illuminating the essential relation between art and nature.
The exhibition program and all activities of the Museum of Montparnasse affirm its intentions to be open to the other cultures, to increase meetings for educational purposes both professional and casual, to invent new solutions for presenting projects, fostering a true culture of Montparnasse in relation with artists from all around the world and in correspondence with all the intercultural disciplines.
Jean Digne, the current president, along with the board members of the museum association, defends the ideal of the museum as an open place for the cultures of the world, promoting a greater understanding of what Montparnasse represents in the culture of the 21st century.
For this reason the ’Archive of Montparnasse’ was born, relying on existing donations as well as on those that will come to enrich it. The exhibitions present these unique and original documents, intimate glimpses into the past, lent by the families of artists, speaking to artistic creation of today.