Louvre-Lens to Present 'Trop mignon! L'art du bonheur', a 2,000-Year Survey of Cuteness in Art
From September 23, 2026, to January 18, 2027, the Louvre-Lens museum will present 'Trop mignon! L'art du bonheur,' curated by Annabelle Ténèze. This exhibition, in collaboration with the museums of the City of Strasbourg, investigates the concept of cuteness in art across two thousand years through diverse mediums, focusing on themes like childhood, love, and subversion. It showcases the evolution of cuteness from ancient artifacts to modern pieces, including a teddy bear coat by Jean-Charles De Castelbajac. Featured artists include Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin and Auguste Renoir, with discussions on the cultural significance of pink. The exhibition also considers cuteness as a political instrument and highlights contemporary artists like Charles Hascoët and Takashi Murakami, concluding with a visitor vote for the most heartwarming artwork.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Trop mignon! L'art du bonheur' runs from September 23, 2026, to January 18, 2027, at Louvre-Lens.
- The exhibition is curated by Annabelle Ténèze, director of Louvre-Lens, and organized in partnership with the museums of the City of Strasbourg.
- It traces 2,000 years of cuteness in art, featuring paintings, photographs, objects, sculptures, videos, films, books, and installations.
- Works include a hedgehog-shaped toy from antiquity, a teddy bear coat by Jean-Charles De Castelbajac, and paintings by Chardin and Renoir.
- The show explores the color pink's shift from a symbol of power to femininity, and its use in Japanese kawaii culture.
- Cuteness is analyzed as a political, economic, and social aesthetic, with examples of political manipulation (Stalin, Mussolini) and peaceful resistance.
- Contemporary artists include Philippe Katerine, Charles Hascoët, Takashi Murakami, Pierre et Gilles, and Will Cotton.
- Visitors will vote for the most touching artwork, a move to 'legitimize their emotional response'.
Entities
Artists
- Annabelle Ténèze
- Jean-Charles De Castelbajac
- Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin
- Auguste Renoir
- Philippe Katerine
- Charles Hascoët
- Takashi Murakami
- Pierre et Gilles
- Will Cotton
- Mireille Blanc
- Laurence Geai
Institutions
- Louvre-Lens
- Musées de la Ville de Strasbourg
- Connaissance des Arts
- Danysz Gallery
- Agence MYOP
- Le Monde
- GrandPalaisRmn
- Musée de l'Orangerie
Locations
- Lens
- France
- Strasbourg
- Paris