La peinture comme crime at the Louvre: A Radical Exhibition of Violence in Art

From September 19, 2001, to January 14, 2002, the Musée du Louvre in Paris presented 'La peinture comme crime,' under the curation of Régis Michel. The exhibition's title draws inspiration from a manifesto by Schwarzkogler, which describes painting as a 'long crime against the imaginary.' It explores themes of violence within Western visual culture through a collection of drawings, prints, and photographs, marked by a sense of darkness and absence of historical context. The exhibition is organized into three parts: 'Vision,' featuring artists such as Carstens and Goya; 'Fiction,' with highlights from Redon and Magritte; and 'Action,' presenting works by Muehl, Brus, and Schwarzkogler. Additionally, two 'days of critical action' were held on November 23 and 24, 2001, to stimulate discussion.