Homage à Rimbaud (Hommage to Rimbaud) 1945

Roger Vieillard created this print, Homage to Rimbaud, as a dedication to the 19th-century French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Rimbaud, known for his symbolist poetry and transient lifestyle, often explored themes of rebellion, freedom, and the search for ecstatic experience. Vieillard conjures Rimbaud’s spirit through a celestial dance above a landscape secured by chains of stars. Note the handwritten verse beneath the image, a quote from Rimbaud which translates to, "I stretched ropes from steeple to steeple; garlands from window to window; golden chains from star to star, and I dance." The chains, seemingly binding the city to the heavens, suggest a tension between earthly constraints and a yearning for transcendence. Vieillard, like Rimbaud, invites us to consider the artist’s role in challenging societal norms, and shaping alternative narratives through their work. This piece becomes an intimate reflection on how individual expression intertwines with collective aspirations for freedom and connection.