L'Art décoratif by Émile Lafont, Allegorical statue at Grand Palais, France
L'Art décoratif is a stone figure by Émile Lafont that represents craftsmanship and artistic skill, positioned in front of the Grand Palais. It sits paired with another sculpture opposite that depicts industry, together forming a balanced composition at the building's entrance.
The sculpture was created around 1900, and its creator won a bronze medal for his work at the Paris World's Fair. It came into being during the period when Paris was establishing itself as the world's leading artistic center.
The figure expresses the value placed on craftsmanship and artistic design that Paris held dear in the early 1900s. Standing at the Grand Palais entrance, it shows how decorative arts were seen as central to city life.
The statue is easy to reach on foot from the Champs-Élysées area, as it sits right on the Grand Palais facade. The neighborhood is very walkable, with metro stations nearby offering quick connections to other parts of the city.
The sculpture was intentionally designed as half of a pair with its facing counterpart representing industry, creating a dialogue about art versus production. This mirrored composition invites visitors to consider both sides of human creativity and manufacturing on the Grand Palais facade.
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