"Copyists" Exhibition Bridges Historical and Modern Art in Unprecedented Louvre-Pompidou Collaboration

In an unprecedented collaboration, the Centre Pompidou-Metz and the Musée du Louvre have unveiled "Copyists," an exhibition running from June 14, 2025, to February 2, 2026. This showcase invites 100 contemporary artists to reinterpret masterpieces from the Louvre's collection, offering a fresh dialogue between historical art and modern creativity.

Curated by Donatien Grau, Advisor for Contemporary Programs at the Musée du Louvre, and Chiara Parisi, Director of the Centre Pompidou-Metz, the exhibition challenges traditional notions of copying. Artists were invited with the prompt: "Imagine a copy of a work of your choosing from the collections of the Musée du Louvre." This approach encourages artists to engage deeply with classical works, reinterpreting them through contemporary lenses.

The practice of copying has long been integral to artistic development. Since its founding in 1793, the Louvre has maintained a copyists' bureau, granting permits to artists to study and replicate works within its galleries. This tradition underscores the continuity and exchange between past and present artistic endeavors.

The "Copyists" exhibition features a diverse array of artists, including Rita Ackermann, Danh Võ, Glenn Ligon, Mohamed Bourouissa, and Yohji Yamamoto. Each artist selected a work from the Louvre's collection to reinterpret, resulting in creations that range from traditional paintings to digital pieces and sculptures.

Fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto drew inspiration from Lucas Franchoys' "Portrait of a Man with His Doublet Half Open." Reflecting on the piece, Yamamoto stated, "The piece this gentleman wears seems baroque. But I like to look at it in terms of rigor: the rigor of black and white; the rigor of the cuts, the sleeves, the apparently overwhelming fabric that has been measured. He looks dreamy in it." This interpretation bridges historical fashion with contemporary design, highlighting the timelessness of artistic expression.

Another notable contribution comes from artist Thomas Hirschhorn, who reimagined François Boucher's "Le Déjeuner." Hirschhorn's "Hausaltar" incorporates a small reproduction of Boucher's work, adorned with flowers, a mirror, candles, and incense, offering a contemporary take on the domestic scene depicted in the original painting.

The exhibition also includes digital reinterpretations. French author Théo Casciani focused on the Salle des Caryatides, a vaulted ballroom filled with Greek marbles and Roman copies, for a digital piece that recontextualizes the space in a modern framework.

By reimagining classical works, contemporary artists bridge historical and modern perspectives, fostering a deeper appreciation for the enduring relevance of art across time. This initiative also highlights the role of museums as spaces for ongoing dialogue between past and present, encouraging audiences to reconsider the boundaries of creativity.

The "Copyists" exhibition is open to the public at the Centre Pompidou-Metz until February 2, 2026. Visitors are encouraged to explore this unique convergence of historical masterpieces and contemporary interpretations, reflecting on the evolving nature of artistic originality and authenticity in the digital age.