Past Exhibition  07.12.19 – 16.02.20

« Reynold Arnould and the new museum at Le Havre (1952-1965) », collective show at the Musée André Malraux, Le Havre

MuMa – The Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux – is taking a look back at the creative journey of Reynold Arnould (1919-1980), a contemporary artist who has been a little forgotten in recent years, who was also director of the museums of the city of Le Havre from 1952.

He was charged with the reconstruction of the Musée des Beaux-Arts fine art museum, which he transformed into an open, light-filled space turned resolutely towards its audience. The first major museum built in France after the war, it opened in June 1961 and was seen as strikingly modern.

Reynold Arnould also enriched the museum’s art collections in spectacular fashion. He angled them more towards contemporary art, showing work by established masters (Dufy, Villon, Léger) alongside important new discoveries, made notably at the Galerie de France: Léon Gischia, André Lanskoy, Maryan, Zoran Mušič, Gustave Singier, Mario Prassinos, Alfred Manessier, Maurice Estève and François Stahly.

Reynold Arnould would have met Zao Wou-Ki in the early 1950s. They moved in the same circles, around La Hune bookshop and the Galerie de France. Thanks to his efforts, the Musée du Havre was the first in France to buys two small oils on canvas in July, 1956

Reynold Arnould exhibition at the Musée du Havre. All rights reserved.

Reynold Arnould exhibition. The contemporary rooms. All rights reserved.

Reynold Arnould exhibition. Zao Wou-Ki, Nous deux, 1955. All rights reserved.

Reynold Arnould exhibition. Zao Wou-Ki, Growing, 1956. All rights reserved