Le Réséda
Le Réséda is a remarkable contemporary sculpture located in the courtyard of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (Deposit and Consignment Office).
While strolling along the Quai Anatole France, you will discover a porch cutting through the facade of an elegant classical-style building, the last landmark before the Orsay Museum.
The sculpture, clearly visible from the street, invites you to enter the private courtyard to admire it more closely.
Le Réséda was acquired by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations in 1988 and has been an integral part of its courtyard since its installation.
The sculptor – Jean-Philippe Arthur Dubuffet
The sculpture, made of epoxy resin, reflects the unique artistic style of Jean Philippe Arthur Dubuffet, a style he refined throughout his career.
Dubuffet, an emblematic figure of Art Brut (Low Art), also known as Outsider Art, believed in its authenticity and unfiltered expression.
Created in 1972, Le Réséda thus illustrates his unconventional approach, characterised by abstract forms and vibrant primary colours.
He worked mainly with polystyrene models and epoxy resin moulds, as he found this lightweight material ideal for creating his designs.
The sculpture’s unconventional style may elicit mixed reactions. Some may be attracted to its primitive, childlike aesthetic, while others may perceive it as discordant with the building’s classical architecture.
Ultimately, the interpretation of art is subjective, and each person’s reaction will be different.
Directions: 7th District – 3 Quai Anatole France
Metro: Assemblée Nationale on Line 12 – RER station: Musée d’Orsay
Coordinates: Lat 48.859721 – Long 2.328521
