On a sunny afternoon in 1989, the strollers of Montmartre, wandering its cobbled streets, are drawn to a strange apparition. There, at a turn of the wall in the artist’s quarter, a bronze statue seems to spring forth from the masonry. The Passe-Muraille, a tribute to Marcel Aymé, comes to life under the sculptural talents of Jean Marais, emerging halfway from the wall with a fixed and mysterious expression.
The Genesis of a Fantastic Hero
The story of Le Passe-Muraille, published in 1943 in the collection of the same name, transports us into the unique universe of Marcel Aymé. Dutilleul, a modest employee in a Kafkaesque ministry, discovers he has an extraordinary gift: the ability to pass through walls. This power, first used to exact revenge on his petty colleagues, soon pushes him into a life of adventure and whimsical burglaries under the pseudonym “Garou-Garou.”
The Statue by Jean Marais
It was in 1967, following the passing of Marcel Aymé, that Jean Marais, his friend and talented sculptor, decided to pay homage to the writer by creating a statue. The final bronze, inaugurated on February 25, 1989, stands 2.30 meters high. A head and torso partially freed, a hand and a leg emerge from the wall, capturing that strange moment where the fantastic meets reality. Located in Place Marcel Aymé, the work catches the curious glances of passersby, sparks comments, and becomes a must-see for tourist selfies.
Montmartre Anecdotes
Marcel Aymé, a great lover of Montmartre, lived for many years on rue Paul Féval and later on rue Norvins, where he crossed paths with Jean Marais. His stories, imbued with a particular affection for this neighborhood, are often set on the Butte, demonstrating his attachment to the charm and quirky poetry of the area. It is said that Aymé, during his solitary walks, frequently stopped to observe the artists and residents, drawing inspiration from their lives for his own stories.
A Poetic Square
The small square where the Passe-Muraille stands, planted with cherry trees and adjoining the embankment of the artist’s quarter, is a place for both passage and contemplation. At the junction of the unfinished Avenue Junot and rue Norvins, it offers a picturesque view that seems suspended out of time. This bucolic and slightly surreal atmosphere is the perfect setting to honor an author who captured the very essence of Montmartre in his writings.
The Legacy of Marcel Aymé
The author of Contes du chat perché, La Jument Verte, La Vouivre, and Traversée de Paris, lived at number 2 rue Norvins in a building designed by the architect Charles Adala. It was here that he mingled with other artistic figures of the time, such as Désiré-Emile Inghelbrecht, a French conductor, and composer.
The Passe-Muraille statue is more than just a sculpture; it is an invitation to dive into the fantastic world of Marcel Aymé, to get lost in the winding streets of Montmartre, and to feel the enchantment of a neighborhood that, like its illustrious resident, remains eternally young and mysterious.
