Paris, the louvre

What vision pops into your head when you hear, “The Louvre?”

Most visualize the stunning Louvre Pyramid, a glass and metal pyramid in the main courtyard. It is the main entrance to the Louvre, but, as with most things, the true beauty lies beneath.

The Louvre began as a palace for kings in the 14th century, and it is now the world’s foremost art museum. King Francis, I began the museum collection in the 16th century. He was the purchaser of the “Mona Lisa.”

The glass pyramid didn’t come until much later in 1989, designed by American architect I. M. Pei, and this pyramid sheds light on the underground floor. The beauty that lies beneath.

When I consider the Louvre, I think of the hours of skill each artist spent learning their craft. How many times did they consider giving up? How many times did they think they were not good enough?

Now, their art is on display in the most prestigious museum in the world. Their vision outlived their trials. They may have left this world, but their interpretation of beauty lived on. All because they chose not to give up.

The beauty that lies beneath all artists is our willingness to wake up the next morning and try again. Our pyramid is our art. What lies beneath is our perseverance, our struggle against self-doubt, and the daily stressors tempting us to throw in the towel.

This is what I saw in the Louvre. I recognized the artist. The human being behind the art. The one who mastered the craft and still struggled with doubt when beginning a new piece. The artist who, in studying their skill, learned how to embrace the adventure.

When the tour was over, my feet were sore. Traveling through time is physical work. But my mind whirled with possibility. The textures, colors, lines, shapes, and tones all surged inspiration into my artist’s heart. But underneath the excitement, I could hear the ghosts of artists centuries before telling me, “Julie. The journey is the art.” I felt understood, empowered, and less alone.

This is the journey of an artist. Our art is not only what we sell or hang in galleries. It is the way we design our souls. Our true beauty lies beneath, and this is the art we get to keep.

Want to read more about my trip to France, check out more stories on the blog here.

Happy creating!