France, Bronze statue at Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France
The bronze statue France stands at the Palais de Tokyo entrance and depicts a monumental female figure representing the French nation. The work combines classical references with more modern sculptural language from the mid-twentieth century.
Antoine Bourdelle created this bronze figure in 1948 as France recovered from the Second World War and pursued reconstruction. The work reflects the artistic renewal that accompanied this period of rebuilding.
The female figure embodies France's recovery and renewal during the post-war period through its bold lines and clear forms. You can sense in it the artistic language of those years, looking both backward to tradition and forward to the future.
The sculpture sits directly at the Palais de Tokyo entrance and is easy to view from outside without entering the museum. The nearest metro stations Iéna and Trocadéro are just a short walk away.
The bronze surface shifts in color as daylight changes throughout the day, making the sculpture appear different depending on the time and season. This constant transformation turns it into a living artwork that never looks quite the same twice.
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