Paris, France —Poet, essayist, art critic and translator, Charles Baudelaire first published what would become his best known work in 1857, « Les Fleurs de Mal », The Flowers of Evil. While the principle themes were sex and death, the transformation of nature into an urban landscape in 19th century Paris emerges as well along with some poems evoking the sense of smell and fragrances, for example in the poem Exotic Perfume in which he extolls the fragrance of green tamarind entering into his soul. As the autumn of the arts unfolds in Paris this year with art fairs, shows and exhaustive exhibitions, the French luxury perfume house of Guerlain on the Champs-Elysées is hosting a collective show of emerging and confirmed artists entitled Les Fleurs du Mal, named after the writer’s celebrated collection of poems, known in English as The Flowers of Evil. 

Guerlain is presenting this ode to Charles Baudelaire as the great perfume house celebrates the 170th anniversary of its celebrated Bee perfume bottle which was designed for the Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III and the benefactress and protector of Charles Baudelaire who when Fleurs du Mal was published became the object of legal action and six of the poems in the collection were eventually banned for « creating an offense against public morales ». The Empress intervened on his behalf, the fine inflicted upon him by the court was greatly reduced and he was not imprisoned.

The Fleurs du Mal exhibition in the historic Guerlain mansion on the Champs-Elysées runs over the three fragrant floors of the building with the colorful and intriguing works juxtaposed with the house’s fine fragrances and luxury cosmetics. The show underscores the links between art and nature, a characteristic found in Baudelaire’s works. 

The show brings together 26 artists working in myriad mediums and the exhibition marks the 16th contemporary art show held within the venerable walls of 68 Champs-Elysées. Some of the art on display has been created specifically for the show which is being held within the context of the Paris+ Par Art Basel event. The works explore the fragile boundaries between the duality of life and death, the ideal and what Baudelaire, who mastered the English language and was the official translator of Edgar Allan Poe, called the spleen, or what one feels deep inside, usually melancholy, « I have more memories than I would have were I to be 1,000 years-old, » he writes in one of his Spleen poems. Exhibition until November 13th, entry is free of charge. Maison Guerlain 68 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette