Art historian condemns Macron’s Louvre expansion as ‘useless’
The founder of La Tribune de l’Art contends that the French president’s vision for the museum ignores the urgent need to repair its deteriorating historic fabric.
Didier Rykner, an art historian and the founder of La Tribune de l’Art, has issued a sharp critique of President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed expansion of the Louvre Museum, describing the initiative as both useless and expensive. In an interview published on 22 July 2026, Rykner argued that the museum’s primary challenge is not a shortage of resources, but a fundamental misallocation of funds toward politically driven architectural projects.
Rykner contends that the Louvre’s most pressing issue is the deterioration of its historic fabric, a problem he believes is being exacerbated by the diversion of capital away from conservation. While acknowledging that security investments are necessary and inevitable for a major cultural institution, he asserts that the greater threat to the museum lies in the neglect of its physical structure due to these redirected resources.
The critique frames the debate over the museum’s future as a question of cultural stewardship. Rykner argues that world-class institutions should prioritise the preservation of their collections, buildings, and the visitor experience over ambitious political visions. He suggests that the current priorities of the Louvre are misaligned with the practical conservation needs required to maintain its status.
According to Rykner, the proposed expansion represents an unnecessary prestige project that fails to address the institutional realities facing the museum. He maintains that the focus should remain on refurbishing and maintaining existing assets rather than pursuing landmark developments that serve political rather than cultural ends.
The source material does not include specific financial data regarding the proposed expansion, nor does it provide architectural plans for the project. Furthermore, there is no response from the Louvre administration or the French government to Rykner’s claims at this time. The commentary was published via La Tribune de l’Art, a publication founded by Rykner that focuses on art news and criticism.
