L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped
Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s posthumous work, 60 years in the making
1961, three years after meeting Jeanne-Claude in Paris, Christo made a study of a mammoth project that would wrap one of the city’s most emblematic monuments. 60 years, 25,000 square meters of recyclable fabric, and 3,000 meters of rope later, the artists’ vision finally came true. Discover their posthumous installation with this book gathering photography, drawings, and a history of the project’s making.
Like most of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work, L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped is temporary and runs for 16 days from Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021. Carried out in close collaboration with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, the historic structure is wrapped in recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue and recyclable red rope. The project is the posthumous realisation of a long-held dream for Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who first drew up plans to wrap the Arc de Triomphe in 1961 while renting a small room near the monument.
Published as a tribute to the late artists and their lifelong partnership, the book includes original sketches, technical data, and exclusive photography, creating a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the genesis of this prodigious artwork.
“I never thought it would ever happen… But I want you to know that many of these projects can be built without me. Everything is already written.”
— Christo
