Spirit, are you there? Our pictures of the mystical exhibition at Paris Musée Maillol

The Musée Maillol reopens at last and is once again turning tables with the exhibition "Esprit, es-tu là? Painters and the Beyond". From June 10 to November 1, 2020, come and admire paintings by 19th- and 20th-century painters once again, and challenge ghosts and spirits... if you dare! See our photos of the exhibition.

The Musée Maillol finally reopens after the coronavirus crisis and summons the ghosts of painters with its exhibition Esprit es-tu là?Painters and the Afterlife. Around a hundred works from public and private collections are brought together for the occasion. From June 10 to November 1, 2020, come and meet these artists inspired by supernatural forces...

Three great painters are at the heart of this exhibition: Augustin Lesage, Victor Simon and Fleury-Joseph Crépin. These three men were inspired to paint by strange voices. These invisible guides led them, and all the artists represented in this collection, to seek a link with thebeyond through their paintings.

These paintings are striking for their attention to detail, meticulous composition and symmetry. Many influences can be found in these 19th and 20th century works: numerous symbols recall Christian, Hindu and Egyptian religions and cultures. Spiritist painters developed their own style, known asart brut: an art form that includes prisoners, madmen, anarchists and mystics.

This artistic movement is still very much alive, nurtured, perhaps, by the spirits of twentieth-century painters. Videos, installations, archive documents and contemporary works complete this exhibition, revealing the evolution and new practices of spiritualist artists.

Old objects used in seances provide a fun way to get to the heart of the matter. As the visit continues, we are struck by the grandeur and richness of the works on display. Just as fascinating as the paintings are the strange stories that accompany them.

Superstitious visitors beware... The soundscape, and especially the last room of the exhibition, may well keep you awake at night. The Musée Maillol has recreated a seance room and, in a very dark setting, shows a reconstruction of the seances and supernatural experiences that the artists presented may have had. We love this eerie, captivating touch. After all, maybe the spirits were there, visiting the exhibition with us?

And to guarantee your safety in the world of the living, the museum has set up special visiting arrangements, such as compulsory reservation by internet with a time slot, compulsory wearing of masks within the museum, temperature control at the entrance, provision of hydro-alcoholic gel and maintaining a distance of one meter from other visitors. It should also be noted that, for safety reasons, the number of visitors will be greatly reduced.

Are you ready to plunge into a mysterious and sacred world? Can you hear the voices of the spirits speaking to you through the paintings on display at the Musée Maillol? Take part in this new epic and discover a world apart, on the border between the living and the beyond.

To recover from your emotions, relax before the soft colors and calm scenes of the paintings presented in the Turner, paintings and watercolors from the Tate exhibition at the Musée Jacquemart André or La Force du Dessin, at the Petit Palais.

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.