IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF EXCEPTIONAL MONTALBAN WOMEN

From traditional sculpture to contemporary street art, Montauban is a living museum where women’s art is expressed in all its forms. Each work bears witness to the essential role played by women in Montauban’s history and culture. Montauban offers you a unique artistic journey where centuries-old heritage and modern urban creations blend harmoniously, giving pride of place to women, whether as artists or sources of inspiration. In historic squares, majestic statues honor our most emblematic female figures, such as Olympe de Gouges, who watches over her native town. In the streets of the old town center, the walls come alive with colorful frescoes where contemporary female artists express their vision of the world. These talented graffiti artists enrich our urban landscape with their daring creations, bringing a touch of modernity into dialogue with traditional architecture. Urban art in Montalban celebrates women in all its facets: giant portraits adorn our facades, poetic graffiti tells feminine stories, while traditional sculptures in bronze or stone perpetuate the memory of our local heroines. This artistic diversity testifies to the constant evolution of our town and its ability to harmoniously blend history and contemporary creation. Discover this unique artistic journey where classic sculptures and street art meet, creating a fascinating dialogue between eras. From historic works to the most recent urban creations, let yourself be surprised by this open-air gallery celebrating the talent and commitment of women past and present.

At the foot of the Ancien Collège, a woman gazes dreamily at passers-by: Antoine Bourdelle’s Penelope. This sculpture, cast in bronze, embodies one of the most emblematic female figures in Greek mythology. Created between 1906 and 1912 by the Montalban artist, this depiction of Ulysses’ faithful wife expresses the full force of feminine character. Penelope is captured in a meditative pose, her body slightly bowed, evoking the twenty-year wait for her husband to leave for the Trojan War. The tension of the body, the position of the hands and the expression on the face reflect both melancholy and determination. In this work, Bourdelle sublimates the qualities traditionally associated with his model: loyalty, patience and intelligence. Penelope, who according to legend wove by day and undid her work at night to fend off her suitors, becomes under the sculptor’s chisel the symbol of feminine resistance and quiet strength. The presence of this sculpture in the public space of Montalban takes on a particular resonance: it not only recalls the genius of a local boy, but also celebrates the strength of character of women, their capacity for resilience and their determination. In this way, the work perfectly reflects our local history, in which female figures have often demonstrated remarkable strength of character.

On the allée de l’Empereur, a monumental bronze female figure rises from its volcanic lava base. This masterful work by Patrick Berthaud, to be installed in 2019, is a vibrant tribute to the artist Camille Claudel, creating a moving dialogue between art history and contemporary creation. Reaching a height of 2.60 meters, the sculpture depicts Camille Claudel dressed in an ample sculptor’s gown, her body seeming to merge with a wave in a striking movement. This composition directly echoes one of Claudel’s major works, “La Vague” or “Les Baigneuses” (1897-1903), while also evoking the artist’s tumultuous destiny. The installation of this work in Montauban takes on a particular resonance: it recalls the historic meeting between Bourdelle and the young sculptress in Rodin’s studio in 1893, an encounter that had a profound impact on the Montauban artist. The latter dedicated a moving poem to her in 1926, testifying to the lasting impact of this artistic relationship. The posture of the figure, poised between falling and rising, masterfully conveys the duality of Camille Claudel’s life: the strength of her creative genius and the fragility of her destiny. This dramatic tension embodied in bronze echoes the tragic fate of this exceptional artist, whose work was not fully recognized until the 1970s. In the city of Olympe de Gouges, this sculpture takes on an additional symbolic dimension. Not only does it celebrate a great artist, it also serves as a reminder of women’s struggle for recognition of their talent in an art world long dominated by men. With this contemporary creation, Patrick Berthaud contributes to the necessary spotlighting of these essential female figures in the history of art.

Émilie Prouchet-Dalla Costa is a contemporary sculptor who has left her mark on the urban landscape of Montauban with her monumental work, LES FLÉCHES D’HÉRACLÈS, over 4.50m high. This artist, based in the Tarn-et-Garonne region of France, works mainly in metal, creating sculptures with pure lines that play with light and space. Her artistic signature is characterized by the use of Corten steel, a material that develops a natural orange patina over time, blending harmoniously into the urban environment. His works, which combine monumentality and delicacy, can be seen in several towns in the Occitanie region. In Montauban, Émilie’s work contributes to the beautification of public spaces and the dialogue between contemporary art and historical heritage. Through her sculptures, Émilie Prouchet-Dalla Costa expresses a modern vision of femininity, combining strength and grace, while remaining true to the tradition of large-scale monumental sculpture.

In 2009, as part of the “Ingres et les Modernes” exhibition at the Musée Ingres Bourdelle in Montauban, the artist Miss Tic created a striking work that dialogues with Ingres’ legacy while conveying a powerful feminist message. A pioneer of urban art since the 1980s, Miss Tic was one of the first women to make her mark in this predominantly male world. Her work stands out as a powerful symbol of the struggle for equality and the representation of women in art. Her stencil and aerosol intervention in Montauban reinterprets two emblematic works by Ingres: “L’Odalisque à l’Esclave” and “La Baigneuse de Valpinçon”. Through this creation, the artist pertinently questions the traditional representation of women in art, notably through incisive phrases such as “Libertine sans liberté” and “Elles ont bon dos / Femmes Passives, Femmes Faciles…”. Her work, oscillating between the defense of freedoms and poetic provocation, makes her an emblematic figure who inspires and challenges. This intervention follows in the tradition of Miss Tic who, since her early days on the streets of Paris, has placed the female figure at the heart of her work, accompanied by powerful texts that challenge gender stereotypes. Her work in Montauban not only testifies to her ability to engage with art history, but also affirms the essential role of women in the contemporary artistic landscape.

MOG is an urban artist based in Pau whose work is distinguished by a unique approach focused on female identity. Her artistic approach is characterized by the representation of female historical figures, which she paints in a style that is both classic and contemporary. MOG’s artistic signature lies in her distinctive technique: she creates portraits in which the gaze takes center stage, emphasized by a contrasting layer at eye level. This distinctive technique, like a shot of fluorescent light, is designed to capture the viewer’s attention and provoke interaction, a silent dialogue between the work and the viewer. In her creations, she explores the notion of Time and Feeling, seeking to make her messages accessible to as many people as possible. Her creative process is collaborative: she chooses her subjects in consultation with the clients of her projects, before placing them in colorful environments that give them a new dimension. In Montauban, almost two decades have passed since the landmark exhibition “Ingres and the Moderns”. In the midst of the rise of the Street Art phenomenon, to which we can add the emergence of a movement to reclaim city centers, as well as militant initiatives, urban works are multiplying. The city and its illustrious figures continue to be a source of inspiration for today’s artists.

In 2021, urban artist MOG boldly reinterprets Ingres’ “La Source” in a monumental 15-metre-high fresco. This impressive work, entitled “ONE GRRR…”, stands out for its vivid colors against a deep blue and purple background. In his contemporary reinterpretation, MOG makes a significant change to the female figure: where Ingres depicted a naked girl, the artist chooses to clothe her in gingham-patterned swimsuit panties. This artistic choice is not insignificant: it opens a dialogue on the representation of the female body in the public space and questions social norms. Referring to the “topless” movement of the 1960s, MOG finely questions the notion of women’s freedom and their right to control their own bodies. The strength of this work lies in its ability to tackle a complex subject – the exposure of the female body in the public space – while preserving the essence and freedom of the original character. Through this creation, MOG contributes to the debate on the place of women in art and society, while asserting her own vision as a contemporary artist.

Created in 2018 to mark the Olympe de Gouges Days, this collective fresco is a vibrant tribute to the remarkable women who have marked Montauban’s history. This unique work is the fruit of collaboration between the Conseil Municipal des Jeunes and artist TIGR, who provided the artistic direction. The project takes on a special educational dimension: before creating the aerosol portraits, the young people discovered the inspiring backgrounds of these exceptional Montalban women. The fresco features Olympe de Gouges, a pioneer of women’s rights, alongside contemporary figures such as Brigitte Deydier, world judo champion, Caroline Aigle, France’s first female fighter pilot, and Janine Garrisson, a renowned historian. This work symbolizes not only the transmission between generations, but also the importance of highlighting those women who have paved the way in their respective fields, whether in sport, the military or the intellectual world.

The CIAP* (*Centre d’interprétation de l’architecture et du patrimoine), offers brochures to help you learn more and deepen your knowledge of all his works.

Carole Bertrand founded Sweet Délices in Montauban in 2016. An original concept, offering both made-to-order cakes, the sale of pastry accessories and workshops to get hands-on. Building on her success, in 2020 she and her husband Cyril created Sweet Délices Développement, and joined the Greater Montauban business incubator to support its growth. Since then, 9 franchises have opened in mainland France and French overseas departments and territories, including Agen, Albi, Caen, Dijon, Martinique…

It was in the West Indies that Vanessa Séguy discovered her passion for earthenware painting and decided to make it her profession. On her return to France, she trained with a professional Meilleur Ouvrier de France, then forged partnerships with local restaurants, organizing creative snacks and breakfasts. In 2024, she decided to take the plunge and opened Tarn-et-Garonne’s first ceramic café in Montauban. While creating and exchanging ideas, you can enjoy delicacies, fruit juices and hot drinks made from organic and artisanal products.