Paris - Place des Pyramides - 1er

Plate XVIII - Human Statue - Place des Pyramides

I’m not sure that calling what I more usually refer to as human statues ‘Mimes’ is the correct use of the word. It somehow does an injustice to an art form that has existed over centuries, dating back to ancient Greek theatre when a single masked dancer was referred to as a pantomimus - and who incidentally was not always silent.

It was however a Parisian, Jean-Gaspard ‘Baptiste’ Deburau, who in the early nineteenth century popularised the silent white-faced figure that the world has come to know as ‘the Mime’. It is undoubtedly a performance art that the French have made their own, with legendary Mimes following Deburau including Jacques Copeau, Etienne Decroux, Jacques Lecoq, Jacques Tati, Jean-Louis Barrault and of course the doyen of them all, Marcel Marceau.

If we allow some latitude by accepting that the Mime portrays thoughts, emotions and feelings by gesture and facial expression, perhaps I am being harsh in not allowing that these human statues follow that rule by allowing movement only on receiving a public funds donation. So mimes we’ll let them be, (but we’ll keep the m in lower case lettering!!)

I am still fascinated by the mimes of Europe. I cannot help thinking there must be an easier way to make a living than the hours of doing something by doing nothing that these dedicated souls endure. This particular example was not the best I have seen, but I had to admire her courage in setting up shop in the Place des Pyramides. It takes confidence (or foolishness) to set yourself up to do battle for attention with a gilded Joan of Arc!!!