Guardians of the Louvre

May 2, 2016
“Is this a dream?” wonders a young comic-book artist who is surprised to find his visit to the Louvre interrupted by a fantastical reverie. Before his curious eyes, the long queues of tourists disappear and he is visited by an apparition in the form of Winged Victory. Like a literal patron saint of the arts, she introduces him to the spirits she calls the Guardians of the Louvre before sending him on a phantasmagorical journey where he meets and chats with some of his favorite painters, such as Corot and Van Gogh. Taniguchi’s (The Walking Man) coolly and resplendently drawn, if rather indifferently written, book is the latest curious addition to NBM’s Louvre Collection. It’s unclear why the Louvre would want a book to emphasize the difficulty of navigating their great swarms of visitors, but Taniguchi does a fine job of selling the museum as a bastion of wonderment, albeit one best visited in solitude with the guidance of a benevolent ghost.

June 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Taniguchi tells the story of a Japanese artist who visits France and decides to spend several days at the Louvre. Shortly before going to the museum, he gets sick, and for most of the narrative, it is not clear if he is feverish, dreaming, or seeing things as they really are. Each day when the artist arrives at the museum, he sees things that should not be possible, such as people wearing clothes from other periods in history, empty rooms instead of crowded ones, and a woman who embodies the spirit of the Winged Victory of Samothrace statue. The artist is able to enter paintings, where he finds himself in different times and places, speaking to artists like Vincent van Gogh and admiring famous depictions of rooms and landscapes. This is a quiet, informative, and painterly work that sometimes feels like an infomercial for the Louvre. The title is oversize (bigger than a manga but not quite a coffee-table book), and since it's translated from Japanese, it reads from right to left. The story is illustrated mostly in earth tones, except for the Winged Victory of Samothrace, who wears a long pink gown. VERDICT This title will appeal more to adults than to young adults, although older teens with an interest in art and art history might also find this an enjoyable selection.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2016
An artist from Japan spends several days at the Louvre during a short trip to Paris. Feverish and ill but determined to see his favorite paintings, he wanders the museum's crowded halls but is soon accompanied by a most unexpected guide. Whisked away from the tourist-clogged galleries, he visits painters and pivotal moments from France's artistic history before returning to the museum for one final, poignant viewing. This latest offering in the long-running comic series commissioned by the Louvre nicely balances one man's rather mysterious experiences with a contagious love of art. The large size, though unusual for manga, allows for detailed yet uncluttered panels that are drawn in a crisp, clean traditional style. Color is used effectively to heighten emotion, create distance, and echo artistic styles, such as the plein air favored by impressionist painters. The story is not always seamless, but readers willing to go along for an unusual ride will find themselves on a voyeuristic trip that illuminates the complex relationship between art and life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)