Christmas morning we walked along the left bank of the Seine to see how the progress on the restoration of Notre Dame after the 15 April 2019 fire is coming along. But before getting there we found ourselves going through this collection of abstract sculptures.
Even with a legend cast in bronze, abstract sculpture, as fascinating as it is, remains enigmatic. I had to consult Google to learn that the artist, Ipoustéguy, is parodying Rimbaud’s nickname, “the man with soles of wind”, whose Le Bateau Ivre translates as “The Drunken Boat” about a boat without a master. Rimbaud was just 16 when he wrote it, and it, in its way, sums up his life – and, arguably, all of our lives.*
These sculptures seemed to me to be the perfect comments on the grey skies above us that seem to compliment the world we find ourselves living in with its wars and widening gulf between those who have unimaginable wealth and those who have virtually nothing. I’m sure the other seven sculptures have equally enigmatic backstories, but I will spare you those to get on with the progress report.
* Arthur Rimbaud, born 20 octobre 1854 Charleville-Mezieres died 10 novembre 1891. Wrote “The Drunken Boat” in 1871 at 16. (published in 1871) Completed (stopped) his writing at 21 in 1875. Attached is the complete poem, translated into English.
(clockwise from lower right) From Pont de Austerlitz we could see Notre-Dame in the distance on Île de la Cité; Notre-Dame from Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II; A lady in mink on the quay just beyond one of the arches of le Pont de la Tournelle with Notre-Dame beyond; detail of a ceramic tile tag on le Pont; the name; approaching le Pont with the new spire of Notre-Dame and one of the cranes engaged in erecting it; three more views of the ongoing construction.
A year from today the restoration of Notre Dame is scheduled to be complete; but there are still controversies going on over some of the stained glass windows yet to be installed. The Archbishop of Paris (and President Macron) are wanting some of them to reflect contemporary culture and a strident group of purists are petitioning for the windows, the architect, Eugéne Viollet-le-Duc, had installed in the 19th century. Ironically, he was considered by no less than Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe, among others, as the father of modern architecture.
And speaking of modernity, we are on the cusp of the new year, 2024. Bonny and I wish all of you Bonne année ! And I want to share these words of Arthur Rimbaud, who wrote them in Une saison en enfer almost 150 years ago:
Quand irons-nous, par-delà les grèves et les monts, saluer la naissance du travail nouveau, la sagesse nouvelle, la fuite des tyrans et des démons, la fin de la superstition, adorer—les premiers!—Noël sur la terre !
(When, beyond the strands and the mountains, will we hail the advent of the new toil, the new wisdom, the flight of tyrants and demons, the end to superstition, adore—for the first time!—“Christmas” on earth!)
À bientôt
La Vie de Montpellier 
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