Ossip Zadkine was a Russian-born French sculptor. He was born in Belarus, which was then part of the Russian Empire, to a Jewish father and a mother of Scottish descent. Originally named Iosel Aronovič Čadkin, he attended art school in London before moving to Paris around 1910. In Paris, Zadkine joined the Cubist movement but developed his own unique style heavily influenced by African art.
The museum dedicated to Zadkine is small but meticulously curated, housing about 300 of his sculptures crafted from various materials like wood, clay, marble, bronze, and stone. Additionally, it features drawings, photographs, and tapestries. Inside, the large windows allow light to diffuse beautifully over the artworks, creating an intriguing and sometimes subtly sensual or dark ambiance.
The garden outside appears to have been deliberately left semi-wild, with powerful, twisted metal structures emerging from the greenery, as if they are in a struggle with nature itself. Located near the Luxembourg Gardens, the museum not only offers a permanent exhibition but also organizes at least two events per year. It is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, except on Mondays. Entry is free until September this year.