Paris Post War: Art and Existentialism 1945-55
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.16 July 1951
The existentialists. There has never been a term so far removed from what it means. To be an existentialist is to do nothing but spend one's time drinking in the little cellars. The relativistes live like this in New York dancing in cellars believing that Einstein is dancing with them. Sartre is not responsible for this phenomenon. He has the most elevated mind, the truest heart, the most noble soul that I know. He detests idleness. When we are together we often wonder at the peculiar path his school chooses to follow.
In Sicily, on the mountain so-called 'plaine des Grecs', where one only communicates with the Italians in a sort of incomprehensible Albanian, someone told me, through the medium of an interpreter, that he was
going to set up an existentialist club.
From Le Passe Defini Vol. 1, by Jean Cocteau (Gallimard, Paris 1983)
(Research by Kate Oldfield)
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments