This rural art museum developed out of Beaux-Arts exercises based on a nine square grid. The structure houses the works of the sculptor Raymond Duchamp-Villon and frames a linear progression of his life and work, climaxing with The Horse, his most famous piece. Sweeping curves supplement the grid to induce movement along this progression.
The mood of Duchamp-Villon's work was often dark. The museum carries this idea through by lighting exhibit spaces by narrow clere-story lighting. Only when the patron gets to some of Duchamp-Villon's later work which is full of festive explosiveness is light allowed to come streaming in, highlighting these works as among his most expressive. However, Duchamp-Villon's life ended prematurely, and the visitor reflects upon this in the final darkly lit room storing his final piece, a small example of the talent that was yet to come.
Critic
Ivan Zaknic
Date
Spring 1997
