The union between the Louvre Museum and Lancôme marked a groundbreaking collaboration that promised to leave an indelible mark. Lancôme, drawing inspiration from nine captivating sculptures within the museum’s sculpture department and the mesmerizing interplay of light and color that defines the Louvre’s aura, had meticulously crafted a limited-edition line of skincare and makeup products, proudly named Lancôme x Louvre.
The campaign unveiling this exceptional collection was expertly filmed within the hallowed halls of the Louvre Museum, featuring the esteemed presence of Zendaya, Aya Nakamura, Amanda Seyfried, and He Cong—esteemed ambassadors of this unique partnership. Each of these four individuals, celebrated for embodying the contemporary ideals of beauty, channeled the essence of iconic sculptural figures through their own distinctive personas.
Since its inception in 1793, the Louvre Museum had been conceived as a sanctuary where artists could immerse themselves in the timeless works of the great masters, drawing boundless inspiration for their own artistic pursuits. Even in the present day, the Louvre remains a vibrant source of artistic inspiration, a never-ending wellspring for creators across various domains, continually enriching our era with the vivid threads of art history.
In this unprecedented collaboration, Lancôme had found its muse in a selection of masterpieces, including the Venus de Milo, Victory of Samothrace, Corine, Diana of Gabies, Nymphe with a Scorpion, Echo, Hygieia, Venus of Arles, and the enigmatic Hermaphrodite. Each of these masterpieces, with its intricate narrative and the myth it embodied, had ignited the creative spark within Lisa Eldridge, the Global Creative Director of Lancôme Makeup, leading to the birth of this remarkable makeup collection.
“I am absolutely thrilled to embark on this inaugural journey with Lancôme, which adeptly captures the multifaceted dimensions of beauty showcased within the vast collections of the Louvre—a realm where cultures and civilizations transcend the constraints of time and geography. The selection of the Venus of Milo, Nymphe with a Scorpion, and Diana of Gabies as the ambassadors for this campaign breathes new life into these iconic and inspiring relics of antiquity, juxtaposing them against the backdrop of contemporary representations and standards. The intertwined history of art and beauty, their ‘manufacture’ and their eternal quest, is a story as old as time itself. Popular culture, with its ever-evolving imagery, advertising campaigns, and the pervasive influence of social media in our daily lives, often draws from these timeless depictions and visuals, sometimes subtly, other times overtly ancient. The Louvre Museum’s collections offer a captivating glimpse into the interpretations, transformations, and evolution of these standards. Through this collaboration, the Louvre, as a contemporary hub of art, plays an indispensable role in shaping our modern perceptions of beauty,” remarked Laurence des Cars, President and Director of the Louvre Museum.
“At Lancôme, we view beauty as a living art form; beauty itself, as a personal ritual, becomes a means of self-expression that transcends the ever-shifting standards of the day. This creative and unprecedented partnership with the Louvre stands as a testament to our unwavering belief in this philosophy and our mission to redefine beauty at Lancôme. By nurturing an ongoing dialogue between our storied French brand, boasting nearly 90 years of heritage, and the world’s most iconic temple of art, we aspire to uncover fresh insights into beauty for the women of today, rooted in our artistic legacy, and celebrate the ever-evolving essence of beauty,” affirmed Françoise Lehmann, General Manager of Lancôme International.
