Zadkine Museum

The Musée Zadkine, located at 100 bis rue d’Assas, near the Jardin du Luxembourg, is a fascinating place dedicated to the work of Ossip Zadkine, one of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Russia in 1890, Zadkine moved to Paris in 1910, where he became a prominent figure in the avant-garde art scene. The museum, inaugurated in 1982, was established by the artist’s wife, Valentine Prax, who donated Zadkine’s house-studio and personal collection to the city of Paris. The Musée Zadkine collection includes about 300 sculptures, as well as drawings, photographs, and tapestries, illustrating Zadkine’s artistic evolution. The exhibited works range from his early sculptures in wood and stone, influenced by primitivism and African art, to his mature works, characterized by a more abstract and dynamic formal language. A significant example is “La Ville détruite,” a powerful allegory of the devastation of World War II, created after the liberation of Paris. The museum is surrounded by a tranquil and picturesque garden, where some of Zadkine’s most emblematic sculptures find a natural context that enhances their beauty and expressive power. Walking among the trees and flower beds, visitors can admire works such as “La Foresta” and “Il Ritorno del Figliol Prodigo,” reflecting the artist’s interest in mythological and biblical themes. Zadkine, who had a classical artistic education, was strongly influenced by Picasso and Braque’s cubism, but soon developed a personal style characterized by a harmonious synthesis of geometric and organic forms. His sculptures, often fragmented and recomposed in unexpected ways, express a dynamic tension and a search for balance between tradition and innovation. His work “Orfeo” is an example: a mythological figure rendered with broken lines and decomposed volumes that evoke both strength and fragility. The museum is not only an exhibition space but also a place of memory and study, where Zadkine’s cultural heritage is preserved. The house-studio, with its cozy and bright interiors, offers an intimate look into the artist’s daily life and creative practice. The workshops, preserved almost intact, show Zadkine’s tools and materials, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the sculptor’s artistic process.