Christo - L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2019)

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2019)

"L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped" was on display as a temporary work of art in Paris in 2021. The Arc de Triomphe, one of the most famous monuments in Paris and France, was wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue and 7,000 meters of red rope. In 1961, three years after they met, Christo and Jeanne-Claude began creating works of art in public spaces. This includes, among other things, wrapping a public building. Christo, who was renting a small room near the Arc de Triomphe at the time, made several drawings for a project there, including a 1962 photomontage of the wrapped Arc de Triomphe, viewed from Avenue Foch. In the 1970s and 1980s, Christo created several more technical drawings and visualizations. Almost 60 years later, the project was realized post mortem. The wrapping project "L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped" was entirely financed by the sale of Christo's preparatory drawings and collages for the project, as well as scale models, works from the 1950s and 1960s, and original lithographs on other subjects. No public funds were received. Christo and Jeanne-Claude have always made it clear that their works of art in progress should continue after their deaths. After Christo's death in 2020 and at his request, "L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped" was realized by his team.

The artwork is unique and consists of a photo, pastel, pencil, tape and fabric on cardboard (photo by André Grossman). L'Arc de Triomphe (2019) is signed lower left/center and dated right, signed on the back, dated "Christo 2019" and is framed with an acrylic hood.

The most important features of the artwork

About Christo

"He began to cover things up. Christo covered cans, bottles, chairs, a car - simply everything he could find, everyday objects that were neither particularly beautiful nor interesting. He tacitly assumed that every object could have its place in art. For him there were no hierarchies of artistic expression and content." (Jacob Baal-Teshuva, art critic, in 1995)

“At a young age, Christo discovered his passion for fabric panels in his father's factory and developed an unmistakable artistic talent. His first wrapping of a paint can in 1958 marked the beginning of a groundbreaking artistic journey. Together with his wife Jeanne-Claude, he created an impressive variety of wrapping projects that amazed the world. From the "Wall of Oil Drums" as a powerful response to political events to the "Floating Piers" on Lake Iseo that invited visitors into a magical world, Christo's artworks delighted people all over the world. Funding for these monumental projects came entirely from the sale of Christo's drawings and previous works, with no support from sponsors or donations. Christo's legacy as a "wrapping artist" lives on in his unforgettable works and his ability to inspire people to see the world around them with new eyes.”