Pulling out Dutilleul, a photo from Ile-de-France, Nord

Photographer's Note

In my quest of seeing & showing Paris differently, render well-known topics as fresh images....familiar landmarks from a not-so-common point of view....

An Encounter with "The Man Who Could Walk Through Walls"

In a small, secretive little plaza in the Montmartre district of Paris can be found a life-sized statue that is known to many native French, but is little known elsewhere. It is an unusual statue, nothing like the men on horseback or head-and-shoulders busts that usually grace the squares of cities like Paris. Rather, this statue is of a man who appears to be coming out of the supporting wall of the garden that lies above it. He is Dutilleul, a mousy, non-nondescript sort of man, a person most people observe and easily dismiss as unimportant. He is balding and ugly, the type of man who keeps mostly to himself in the workplace.

And yet, this man is not ordinary. He is "passing through a wall". No one I know can do that, and as we all know, this is the stuff only of science fiction.

The statue, sculpted by the famous French actor Jean Marais (1913-1998), was produced to commemorate the most famous story of author Marcel Aymé (1902-1967), "Le Paisse-Muraille" or "The Man Who Could Walk Through Walls." Published in 1943 and twice turned into a film, the story is about Dutilleul, a humble civil servant.

If you are in Paris, do make it a point to visit the statue of Dutilleul at the Place Marcel Aymé, Montmartre. It is a little slice of science fiction history.

I quite enjoyed the sight of the tourist here trying her best to pull Dutilleul out of the wall :-)

papagolf21, bema, CLODO, pierrefonds, jjcordier, dip, danos, ChrisJ, patdeph, Didi, jusninasirun, bukitgolfb301, josepmarin, RhodieIke, delpeoples, axiotea, macjake, Sonata11 trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

papagolf21 (76495) 2012-04-09 1:17

Bonjour, cher ami Angshu,
Eh bien ! c'est bien la première fois que je vois cette sculpture représentant "le passe-murail".
Merci de cette contribution fort bien mise en image.
Il va me falloir redécouvrir Paris !
Très bonne idée générale avec une très bonne note d'accompagnement.
Amitiés.
Philippe

bema (25936) 2012-04-09 1:19

Namaste Angshuman,

an interesting note and story, and of course an atrractive caprue too, with a little help of that touristic lady..

thanks for sharing, see you around..

regards Bernd

CLODO (24716) 2012-04-09 1:39

hi Angshuman

Funny picture well taken to make us understand the scene, and a good note to hilight it
Regards
CLODO

Zengi001 (2093) 2012-04-09 1:49

Hi Angshuman,
I wouldn't complain much if she would pull my finger too.. :)
Good framing and presentation, tfs!
Regards,
Engin.

Bluejeans (64221) 2012-04-09 5:14

Ola Angushuman ,
Belo momento com esta mulher a segurar a estátua nesta parede , parece que vai a atravessar a parede , bons detalhes e cores, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Sergiom (39148) 2012-04-09 6:30

Bonjour Angshuman,

J'aime beaucoup le sujet très intéressant de l'homme qui passe à travers les murs, mais tellement amélioré par la présence de la jolie jeune fille qui pose pour la postérité.

Amicalement

Serge

pierrefonds (48321) 2012-04-09 8:15

Hi Angshuman,

The walls are framing well the young woman. You have captured well her action grabbing the fingers of the sculptur. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the walls and of the sculptur. The afternoon light has a good effect on the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jjcordier (62280) 2012-04-09 9:41

Angshuman
Le passe-murailles s'est trouvé une bien jolie compagne et on comprend qu'il soit capable de tout faire pour la séduire. Une image très plaisante.
Amicalement
JJ

divail (7211) 2012-04-09 18:54

Bonsoir Angshuman,
C'est une composition très réussie, avec la jeune femme. C'est également une statue étonnante, qui vaut le coup d'oeil. Une belle scène de ville, très naturelle.

Diane

dip (21875) 2012-04-09 22:22

Hi Angshu,
you captured the scene very well,
it's a beautiful shot with interesting details,and an informative note,
thanks for sharing,
Dimitris.

wolf38 (28146) 2012-04-09 23:02

Hello Angshuman. A photo with a great sense of humor. Since I can only say that this is a successful communication. Well composed and realized. Rgds, Wolfgang.

danos (73946) 2012-04-09 23:10

Hello Angshu,
funny the snapshot with the young woman to pose holding as trying to pull Dutilleul out of the wall.
I like the good ratio of the scene as the excellent light and colour management of it.Interesting the note about Dutilleul,a story that never hear it again.

Regards,Danos

Graal (88820) 2012-04-10 0:08

Hi Angshuman,
unusual sculpture in the wall. Good captured place and scene. The nice living addition. Fine reportage from Paris.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

Nicou (97583) 2012-04-10 1:45

Hlelo

génaile compo de cette belle dame qui donne la main à la statue quelc adrage et effet comme elle sort du mur fantastique

bravo et amitié
Nicou

altay1364 (0) 2012-04-10 2:01

Selam
Çok iyi çalışma,güzel ayrıntılara sahip bir foto.tebrikler

ChrisJ (86818) 2012-04-10 2:08

Hi Angshu

Spooky! But the girl doesn't seem too concerned at the ghostly statue passing through the wall. A pity about the graffiti on the bg wall although it's not your fault. Maybe I would clone it out. Good sharpness & profiled view. Tfs!

chrisvek (5437) 2012-04-10 3:45

Hi Angshuman,

This is a very clever shoot with great details and sharpness.Very nice framing and POV.Very well done!TFS

Have a nice week,
Chris

pajaran (36179) 2012-04-10 4:38

Dobar dan.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst sa datim podacima ...
Dobar trenutak snimak, ostrina, kontrast i prikaz lepim bojama.
Dobra kompozicija, snimak za uspomenu.
Imajte lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje sa lepim secanjem na posetu Parizu.
Paja.

Google.

Good afternoon.
Very interesting and good text with a given data ...
Good time recording, sharpness, contrast and display of beautiful colors.
Good composition, recording the memories.
Have a nice and successful day, all the best with beautiful memories of visiting Paris.
Paja.

Fis2 (73056) 2012-04-10 6:06

Witaj Angshu!
Curious place, curious scene.
Good frame and colors.
Best regards
Krzysztof

patdeph (35738) 2012-04-10 9:28

namaste Angshuman
even if I have ead the book, I didn't know that there was a statue on Dutilleul in Paris.With the woman taking the pose, this is afunny picture,very well done.
Regards
Pascale

Didi (48882) 2012-04-11 0:59

Salam Angshu
Very nice humoristic scene and very original frame quality.
I saw yesterday a film of the fifties about the story of this man, the player actor was Bourvil.
Best regards

John_F_Kennedy (41368) 2012-04-11 2:48

Hello Angshuman,
Here is another great picture of the daily life. You show us a nice scene. Well done.
best wishes,
Achim

jusninasirun (17136) 2012-04-11 5:24

Hello Angshu.
I like this shot of a beautiful girl pulling out the hand of the man walking through wall. Details and colors are fabulous and thanks so much for sharing.
Kind regards.
Jusni

bukitgolfb301 (30053) 2012-04-11 20:31

Hello NAMASTE my dear Angshuman

A happy and cute shot! different style as your usual ones but still great and attractive.
Very well considered and perfect framework.
Clear and sharp presentation is as usual. Vivid fresh blue color is also marvelous. Thanks for your sharing with your good work and have a good day,
best regards,

Takero in Tokyo

josepmarin (55015) 2012-04-12 1:10

Namaste, my friend Angshuman,
a good capture in which you have caught the scene of this tourist posing for a funny photo of recollection.
The peculiar sculpture of the man who crosses the wall, and his strong graphical effect, they combine with the sharm of this girl and her pretty smile.
It's a less habitual photo at your works, but very interesting and full of vitality, and executed-well.
I like.
Best wishes,
Josep

npecanhuk (53881) 2012-04-12 4:53

Hello Angshuman!
Funny picture!
Great idea!
Excellent photo quality!
Special regards to the chosen pov, vertical format, exposure and composition!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

RhodieIke (9207) 2012-04-12 21:55

Hi Angshu, Very funny and good find of this amusing scene. Well managed with the super Pov, and vertical format. Trust you are well, Cheers Iain.

delpeoples (44904) 2012-04-13 2:53

Namaskar dear Angshu

A beautifully timed and composed photo that has put a smile on my face. Very original and the lady in blue is very pretty too, adding a very interesting extra element to an already lovely photo.

Thanks for sharing, enjoy your weekend
Lisa

rabdelnoor (3421) 2012-04-14 19:58

Hi Angshu,
I remember seeing this sculpture somewhere in Paris. You captured it very well and the lady on the picture added contrast and perspective to the picture. Very well done.
Regards
Ricardo

mkamionka (24477) 2012-04-17 13:37

Hi Angshu,
never heard about this place before although I was twice in Montmartre. Very interesting capture nicely decorated with the model in colorful clothes. Very nice capture,
M

batalay (32846) 2012-04-22 19:18

Hello Mr. B,

This is certainly an eye-catching scene, the head and limbs of Dutilleul protruding from the stone wall, and augmented by the presence of the woman. You've made this corner of Montmartre most appealing, and definitely worth visiting.

Warm regards,

Bulent

axiotea (21647) 2012-04-22 23:44

Bonjour Angshu
I love the mood of that picture! Although I never saw the statue made by J.Marais (he used to be one of my favourite actor in my childhood)I, of course, know the story of that man who could walk through walls ;)
The lady (she could be Indian) is very well positioned in the frame and I like her posture...her smile too!

Amicalement
Marilyn

macjake (39207) 2012-05-28 1:34

Hi Angshu
i have to admitt that i really enjoyed reading the note below.
I have never heard or seen of this statue ever before, and now i feel as if i'm well educated on the subject :)
and i have to admitt, that i enjoy the woman too! she's easy to look at!
Cheers
Craig

Sonata11 (28273) 2012-08-23 17:55

Hi,
what a fantastic composition of this place with the young beautiful girl. AWESOME shot!!!! Excellent. Love it.Thanks for sharing.
All the ebst,
Barbara