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About this Exhibition
This exhibit features a selection of works from Noëlle Herrenschmidt’s latest book, published in the fall of 2016: Dans les coulisses de la loi, that retraces the path of law in France from the ministries to the Journal officiel, Matignon, the Conseil d’Etat, the Elysée, the Parliament, its two chambers and the Conseil Constitutionnel. This fascinating book represents seven emblematic powerhouses in France.
For six years, Noëlle Herrenschmidt was in the backstage of the Republic, pencils and brushes in hand, pushing open doors that typically remained closed.
The resulting work and book, Dans les coulisses de la loi, is an initiation without equivalent to the mysteries of the law, from its elaboration until its promulgation. To which no journalist has ever succeeded in making it so accessible.
Noëlle Herrenschmidt, who has been carrying her drawing books for a quarter of a century in places and reputedly impenetrable institutions - has also "covered" several major lawsuits for the newspaper Le Monde and has a singular talent.
About Noëlle Herrenschmidt
Noëlle Herrenschmidt was born in 1940 and started drawing in 1971 for the French group: Bayard Presse. She was introduced to the reportage genre in 1980 in Calcutta with Mother Teresa, then in Hong Kong and Vietnam in 1990. It was there that she opened for the first time her box of watercolors, which will never leave her side. She delved into the judicial world in 1987 with the Barbie trial, then the Touvier trial for the newspaper La Croix.
From 1997 onward, as a courtroom sketch artist, she followed famous trials such as the Papon trial, the contaminated blood trial, the Dumas trial, the Clearstream trial…
For the past 30 years, she has also explored enclosed places, jails and hospitals, in order to discover, thanks to drawings and testimonies, the inner workings of these places and how men and women live and work there.
Book after book, she has portrayed an image of our society and its key institutions: justice, health, religion, and, today, politics.
From 2010 to 2016, she immersed herself in the political world in order to explain the backstage of the elaboration of law in France.
Find out more about the artist
Gallery Hours
Monday, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PMTuesday through Thursday, 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday and Saturday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Through the Lens
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Call for Artists
Our art exhibition program showcases local and international artists whose work has a connection with French and Francophone culture.
Whether you draw your inspiration from an artistic movement, a specific artist, a subject or a technique, you can submit your work for an opportunity to present your art to the public in our elegant brownstone's gallery in the heart of Back Bay, for month-long exhibitions from September through June.
Artists and projects are selected by a committee of art professionals, artists and art connoisseurs who meet twice a year. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
To submit your work please refer to the Call for Artists in which you will find a detailed description of requirements and conditions.
Upcoming Events
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Join us at the French Library for a conversation about L'Etranger by Albert Camus. We invite you to read the book in its entirety and meet us on April 24th, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
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GASTRONOMY & WINE PROGRAM: YOUR FRENCH CULINARY ARTS AND WINE JOURNEY
Join us in our Victorian Founder's Room for the first Wine Seminar of the year, dedicated to the Loire Valley wines. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, our series is tailored to provide a deeper understanding of French wines, refine your wine-tasting skills and vocabulary, and foster confidence in conversations, selections, and pairings. We will provide you with an authentic French perspective and access to a splendid array of quality wines.
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