Curatorial notes
Georges Michel sketched this "Road to Montmartre" with graphite, capturing the climb to the hilltop. Notice how the windmills punctuate the skyline; symbols not just of labor, but of human aspiration toward the heavens. These windmills are more than simple machines; they evoke a dance between earth and sky, reminiscent of Don Quixote’s tilting at giants, symbols of a quest. The image of the windmill resurfaces across time, each appearance layered with new meaning while still echoing the old. What was once a symbol of progress becomes a symbol of nostalgia, a longing for simpler times, for a connection to the land. Consider how such images tap into our collective memories, evoking both progress and the melancholy of time's relentless march forward.