A Figure Trapped in a Wall in Montmartre… Sculpture or Ghost?
Don’t panic — it’s not a ghost, but a bronze statue by Jean Marais. Step closer, and you’ll recognize the face of Marcel Aymé, the author of the famous fantastical story Le Passe-Muraille (“The Man Who Walked Through Walls”).
The story unfolds right here in Montmartre, at 26 rue Norvins, where the writer once lived. It tells the life of Monsieur Dutilleul, an ordinary clerk who discovers an extraordinary power: he can walk through walls.
This gift leads him to take revenge on his superiors, rob banks, and escape the police… a mundane life transformed into something fantastical. But every power has its limits: after falling in love upon leaving prison, Dutilleul loses his ability at the worst possible moment… and becomes trapped in a wall for eternity — just like the statue before you.
Between urban legend, novel, and sculpture, Montmartre becomes the stage for a magical tale where reality and fantasy intertwine.
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