La Danse
By Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, commissioned by Charles Garnier.
Upon its unveil, it attracted a plethora of opinions like flames growing into a wildfire. Some were able to respect the façade; others emphasized the vulgarity of the sculpture, deeming it inappropriate. As Haussmann led Paris towards modernity—and did it so dominantly—the city became a breeding ground for pleasure-seekers. This unexpected opportunity for sexual ambiguity found itself surrounded by grievance and it ultimately caused a heavy division among the growing population of Paris. At the end of August 1869, the temperatures were rising, with the increasing heat, rose a riot, causing intensity to surge through the streets of Montmarte. This resulted in someone throwing black ink on the frowned upon figures of ‘La Danse’ it almost seemed as if the sculpture got covered in the aversion it caused from various different sources.
A heavy commotion flared up from the press, as some were unceasingly condemning the act of vandalism, standing their ground against the artists and critics that kept on relentlessly vocalizing their distate towards the sculpture, choosing not to acknowledge the act of violence.
Paris may have been on a voyage towards modernity, yet certain acts of rejection made themselves visible through rebellious deeds or unfiltered words that carried within them sharp rejection and contempt ; some welcomed change with open minds and open arms, yet there were others that denied its existence altogether with heavy disdain.
