Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume

Welcome, esteemed travelers and scholars, to the northwestern corner of the Tuileries Gardens. Before you stands the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, a building of profound historical and cultural resonance. …

Standing near the main entrance, let us reflect upon the building's inception. The term 'Jeu de Paume' literally translates to 'game of the palm.' This elegant structure was erected to host this very sport, catering to the…

We now move to a period of profound darkness. From nineteen forty to nineteen forty-four, the Jeu de Paume was commandeered by the Reichsleiter Rosenberg Taskforce, known as the E.R.R. …

As you walk further into the gallery spaces, consider the area that the Nazis cynically dubbed the 'Martyr's Room.' This specific designation was reserved for what the regime classified as 'degenerate art'—modern, abstract, and…

Direct your attention now to the south wall of the building, where a plaque solemnly honors a woman of extraordinary courage: Rose Valland. An unassuming curator and member of the French Resistance, Valland worked within the Jeu…

Following the trauma of the Second World War, the Jeu de Paume underwent a glorious resurrection. From nineteen forty-seven until nineteen eighty-six, this building housed the Musee du Jeu de Paume, becoming an internationally…

Let us fast forward to the late twentieth century. In nineteen eighty-nine, under the Grand Projets of President Francois Mitterrand, the building underwent a massive ten-million-dollar renovation helmed by architect Antoine…

As we conclude our exploration of the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, take a moment to stand near the exit and absorb the profound duality of this space. You have traversed the history of a building that has served as both a…