André Malraux's 'Musée Imaginaire' and the Photographic Reinvention of Art
In a 1954 image captured by Maurice Jarnoux for Paris-Match, André Malraux is depicted in his Boulogne salon alongside prints for Le Musée imaginaire de la sculpture mondiale (1952–1954). This initiative, stemming from Malraux's editorial endeavors that began with Psychologie de l'art (1947) and continued to L'Intemporel, aims to establish a 'museum without walls' through photography. Malraux, who transitioned from book designer to artistic director at Gallimard, worked with Roger Parry to alter images, drawing inspiration from Alfred Salmony and Walter Benjamin. Although he envisioned distributing reproductions during his tenure as Minister of Information (1945–46), only two were produced. The Musée imaginaire features numerous images and expert commentary, utilizing visual techniques akin to film montage, with Malraux claiming copyright and designating the albums as original works.
Key facts
- Maurice Jarnoux's photograph of André Malraux was published in Paris-Match in June 1954.
- Le Musée imaginaire de la sculpture mondiale was published between 1952 and 1954 in three volumes.
- Malraux's editorial project began with Psychologie de l'art in 1947 and ended with L'Intemporel.
- Malraux worked as a book designer in the 1920s and became artistic director at Gallimard.
- Roger Parry was the photographer who manipulated images for Malraux's art books.
- Alfred Salmony, met in 1923, influenced Malraux's comparative method.
- As Minister of Information in 1945-46, Malraux planned to distribute reproductions of masterpieces; only two were produced: Renoir's Moulin de la Galette and a detail from Piero della Francesca's cycle.
- Malraux claimed copyright for both text and illustrations in the Musée imaginaire volumes.
Entities
Artists
- André Malraux
- Maurice Jarnoux
- Roger Parry
- Alfred Salmony
- Clara Malraux
- Auguste Renoir
- Piero della Francesca
- Michelangelo
- Heinrich Wölfflin
- Walter Benjamin
- Brian O'Doherty
- Léon-Paul Fargue
Institutions
- Paris-Match
- Gallimard
- Musée de Cologne
- UNESCO
- Librairie Gallimard
- Jrp Ringier
- La Maison Rouge
Locations
- Boulogne
- France
- Cologne
- Germany
- Arezzo
- Italy
- Paris
- Zurich
- Switzerland
Sources
- artpress —