Ecoute on Place René Cassin
L’Ecoute – The Listener is a monumental sculpture located in Place René Cassin, near Les Halles.
René Cassin played a pivotal role in the development of human rights. He was indeed one of the architects of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a founder of UNESCO. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968.
The square was once part of the forecourt of Saint Eustache Church. It was redeveloped following the demolition of the Les Halles former market hall, and was paved with stones arranged in concentric circles. These formed a series of interconnected basins and miniature waterfalls, separating the church and its forecourt from the gardens of the Forum des Halles.
The Listener sculpture
French artist Henri Miller created this monumental sculpture in 1986.
L’Ecoute weighs 70 tons and is carved from Burgundy sandstone. The sculpture depicts the head of a giant, seemingly lost in peaceful sleep, resting on a hand. Its serene expression and gentle smile invite passersby to pause and listen to the world around them.
Placed directly on the ground, without a pedestal, L’Ecoute is accessible to all. Children and adults can climb into the hand and sit near the giant ear.
Henri Miller’s signature, “Henry Miller in 1986,” is clearly visible on one side of the sculpture.
Needless to say, the presence of this unique sculpture sparked a heated controversy, a debate that continues to this day!
Directions: 1st district
Metro: Les Halles on Line 4
Coordinates: Lat 48.863393 – Long 2.345099
