Ancient Impressions: China to Notre-Dame Rubbings Unveiled at MAD

From Han Dynasty Tombs to Notre-Dame's Scaffolding: An Ancient Art of Impression Revived in Paris

In a compelling dialogue across centuries and continents, Paris’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD) is set to unveil Le langage des murs. Estampages de la Chine à Notre-Dame (The Language of Walls: Rubbings from China to Notre-Dame). Scheduled from March 18 to June 28, 2026, this focused exhibition offers a rare look at the ancient technique of rubbing, juxtaposing historical Chinese masterpieces with remarkable new works created during the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Timed to coincide with the Salon du Dessin and Printemps Asiatique, the show promises to be a key event for specialists in works on paper, Asian art, and cultural heritage.

The exhibition centers on estampage, an ancient Chinese method of creating impressions from inscribed or carved surfaces. The process, which will be illustrated with tools on display, involves applying moistened paper to a surface like stone, metal, or wood. The paper is gently tamped to conform to every detail. Once dried, ink is applied with a pad, blackening the raised surfaces while leaving the recessed areas white, resulting in a precise, full-scale monochrome image.

At the heart of the exhibition are approximately forty previously unseen rubbings taken from the interior walls of Notre-Dame de Paris between 2021 and 2023. This contemporary revival of an age-old practice was spearheaded by Santiago Hardy, a rope access technician, and Delphine Syvilay, a research engineer at the Historical Monuments Research Laboratory (LRMH). Working high on the scaffolding of the fire-ravaged cathedral, they used estampage to create a definitive record of the ephemeral markings left by generations of builders, artisans, and visitors. Their work has preserved a fragile mural archive of masons’ marks (signes lapidaires), graffiti, and other inscriptions that might otherwise have been lost to time or the restoration itself. These rubbings are not merely copies; they are unique documents of a pivotal moment in the life of a global icon.

Providing a rich historical counterpoint, the museum will present around twenty Chinese rubbings from its own collection, created circa 1890-1900. These pieces are impressions of significant historical artifacts, including Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) funerary reliefs, intricate decorations from Buddhist grottoes, and ornamental steles. According to the museum, these works were first shown at the MAD in a 1912 exhibition titled "Estampages de sculptures chinoises." The 2026 presentation represents a scholarly re-examination of this collection, benefiting from new research conducted in partnership with the French National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) under the guidance of lecturer Lia Wei.

The exhibition further broadens its scope by including 19th and 20th-century French examples of the technique from the museum’s own holdings, featuring works by artists such as Eugène Grasset, Émile-Auguste Reiber, and Jean Dubuffet. This section reveals how the practice was adopted in France, often as a method for creating a documentary or memorial record.

For the art and antiques professional, Le langage des murs offers several layers of significance. It presents a fascinating case study in the transfer and adaptation of artistic technology across cultures. Furthermore, the Notre-Dame rubbings highlight a renewed appreciation for documentary art forms that capture historical and material authenticity—a growing interest in the heritage sector. By linking the ancient art of Chinese scholars with a cutting-edge European conservation project, the exhibition provides a fresh perspective on how historical techniques can be repurposed to meet contemporary needs, bridging the gap between antiquity and the present day.

This intimate yet profound exhibition offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the aesthetic, poetic, and technical qualities of a medium that gives voice to silent walls.

Exhibition Details

• Title: Le langage des murs. Estampages de la Chine à Notre-Dame
• Venue: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, 107 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
• Dates: March 18 – June 28, 2026
• Admission: Full rate €15, reduced rate €10. Free for visitors under 26, as reported by L'Officiel des spectacles.