Sunday, May 27, 2012

Division 97 - Memorial to the Colonel Fabien Brigade

Legendary figures in the French Resistance during the Second World War. From left to right: Captain Katz (1911-1944), Lieutenant Colonel Dax (1912-1944), Colonel Fabien (Pierre Georges, 1919-1944), and Captain Lebon (1897-1944)

Friday, May 25, 2012

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Division 94 - Larcade

One of my most favorite pieces of cemetery architecture is the door slightly ajar, opening for a new life or closing on the old one?

Monday, May 21, 2012

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Division 94 - Ozanian Antranik (1865-1927)

Antranik (or Andranik) was a leader of the Armenian liberation movement. During the Balkan Wars in 1912-1913, he fought for Bulgaria against Turkey. Then he returned to Armenia to organize the Armenian volunteer units to battle the Turkish regular army. After the fall of the Republic of Armenia, he immigrated to America, and died in Fresno, California, in 1927. His remains were taken to Paris in 1928, and finally brought to Armenia in 1999. Sculpture by Leon Mourdoff.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Division 93 - Marguerite Poccardi (1907-1920)

I have always found this a curious work. A young girl, probably Marguerite herself, does not appear to be sad or grieving or otherwise in anguish but simply and mildly curious about the person standing in front of her grave. Curious for all eternity. . .

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Division 93 - Lagarde-Gueret

For me this sculpture is strikingly simple, and yet it's not really it's artistic aesthetics that appeal to me so much as how it is perfectly evocative of what actually transpires in this cemetery. . .

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Division 92 - Victor Noir (1848-1870)

Born Yvan Salmon, journalist Victor Noir was assassinated by Prince Pierre Bonaparte, grand-nephew of Napoleon I and cousin of Napoleon III. Bonaparte was acquitted. Originally buried in Neuilly, his body was removed to Pere Lachaise. Effigy in bronze by Jules Dalou (1838-1902).


Thursday, May 10, 2012

Division 92 - Khadra

Is this Isabelle Heneine Khadra who reportedly died in 1913 at the age of 21?

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Division 91 - Louis Auguste Blanqui (1805-1881)

French socialist political activist and political theorist. Sculpture by Jules Dalou (1838-1902).

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Division 89 - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Sculpture by Jacob Epstein, lipstick by his admirers (this photo was taken before the barrier screen went up):

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Division 88 - Harriet Toby (1929-1952)

Born Harriet Joan Katzman, Toby was an American ballerina. She died in a plane crash alongside actresses Michèle Verly and Alice Topart.