Emmanuel Macron has named Laurence des Cars, an art historian, as the new director of the Louvre museum, which was founded in 1793.
It is the first time in more than two centuries that a woman will be in charge of the world's largest museum. Des Cars, who has served as president of the Musée d'Orsay and L'Orangerie in Paris since 2017, will take over the position in September 2021.
Ms des Cars succeed Jean-Luc Martinez, who was seeking a third term as director of the prestigious museum after eight years in charge.
Martinez was thought to have the support of French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot, but his style of management and latest initiatives have drawn criticism.
“It was a joyful and emotional moment. I will never forget that call,” she said in an interview with radio station France Inter “The Louvre can be fully contemporary because it can open up to today’s world while telling us about the past, giving relevance to the present through the weight of the past.”
“What I want to do is think about what we consider a ‘universal museum’. This is the label we stick on the Louvre, wrongly as it happens because it’s not quite that. Its purpose is to be universal, and that’s what interests me” des Cars said.
During her four years as president of the Musée d’Orsay, the 54-year-old art historian has also taken a stand on controversial issues, including some involving race and restituting works looted by Nazis.
The future president of the Louvre believes that the purpose of a museum’s show is to reflect the biggest issues in our modern societies while attracting younger generations.
Following the relaxation of Covid restrictions, French museums reopened last week.
The Louvre has reported that visitor numbers had dropped by 72% throughout the whole of 2020.
“We are coming out of a destabilising crisis and we are all a little bit at a loss for direction. I think the Louvre has a lot to say to young people, too, who will be at the centre of my concerns as president of the Louvre,” des Cars said, “We need to look at the long term.”
Written by Giovanni Florean
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