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Bernard Comment's 'Florence, retours' Explores Confinement Through Architecture

publication · 2026-04-23

In its 1994 fall literary selection, art press magazine featured three books, including Bernard Comment's novel 'Florence, retours'. The novel centers on a Parisian architect who travels to Florence to participate in a competition to restructure former prisons that were once convents, exploring themes of confinement. Jacques Henric interviews Comment about his choice of Florence, the relationship between painting and writing, and the connection between body and writing.

Key facts

  • art press featured 'Florence, retours' in its 1994 fall literary selection
  • The novel is by Bernard Comment
  • It follows a Parisian architect in Florence
  • The architect participates in a competition to restructure former prisons
  • The prisons were originally convents
  • The novel explores themes of confinement
  • Jacques Henric interviewed Comment
  • Topics include Florence, painting-writing link, and body-writing connection

Entities

Artists

  • Bernard Comment
  • Jacques Henric

Institutions

  • art press

Locations

  • Florence
  • Italy
  • Paris
  • France

Sources