Vu[e]s de dos. Une figure sans portrait
The exhibition "Vu[e]s de dos. Une figure sans portrait" at Les Franciscaines in Deauville, running from February 28 to May 31, 2026, explores the artistic motif of figures seen from behind. Curated by director Annie Madet-Vache, the show was inspired by a small painting from the museum's own collection, André Hambourg's *L'Enterrement de Poincaré*. Unable to secure loans of iconic works such as those by Friedrich, Delacroix, Ingres, or Vermeer, Madet-Vache instead displays large black-and-white reproductions of these masterpieces alongside contemporary works they inspired, turning the absence of the originals into a conceptual strength.
This exhibition matters because it demonstrates a resourceful curatorial approach that transforms a limitation—the inability to borrow famous paintings—into a creative and intellectually engaging premise. By juxtaposing reproductions with contemporary responses, the show invites viewers to reflect on the enduring power of a specific visual trope across art history, while also highlighting how smaller museums can produce meaningful, original exhibitions without relying on blockbuster loans. It underscores the value of local collections and innovative thinking in the current museum landscape.