Isadora Duncan dancing

By Jules Grandjouan

January 17 to April 28, 2019

In 1903, Isadora Duncan (1877 - 1927) danced to pieces by Chopin at the Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt in Paris. In the audience, Jules Grandjouan (1875 - 1968) was seduced by the dancer's freedom: dressed in a Greek tunic, she moved barefoot in front of a blue stage curtain as her only backdrop. A deep friendship develops between the two artists.

  • Modern art
  • Room 21

Last update: Wednesday, November 6 at 1:56 PM

Living in Paris since 1900 (the year of Isadora Duncan's first stay), Jules Grandjouan was a caricaturist committed to the cause of the working-class population. Another facet of his talent is expressed in his drawings inspired by Isadora Duncan, which he seeks to make known to as many people as possible by distributing them in the press or in portfolios, and by organizing exhibitions.

The Musée d'arts de Nantes holds nearly 50 drawings New Window made after Isadora Duncan's tragic death:

I don't care if my name isn't there, as long as his is.

Jules Grandjouan

More than eighty works and documents, held at the Bibliothèque municipale, the Château des ducs de Bretagne - Musée d'Histoire de Nantes and the Musée d'arts de Nantes, bear witness to his friendship with the dancer who was an inspiring and singular personality, a free woman and a pioneer of modern dance.