The Guardians of the Louvre

Acclaimed manga artist Jiro Taniguchi presents a striking addition to the Louvre’s celebrated graphic novel collection. Following a group tour of Europe, a Japanese artist detaches from his companions to spend time alone in Paris, driven by a deep desire to explore the city’s renowned museums. However, his plans are abruptly derailed when he falls ill with a fever, leaving him bedridden in his hotel room. Stripped of familiar comforts and entirely isolated in a foreign country, he endures the profound vulnerability of suffering far from home. Once his fever finally begins to subside, he ventures out to fulfill his original ambition, only to quickly lose his way within the vast, crowded corridors of the Louvre. What follows is an extraordinary journey that blurs the fragile boundary between reality and feverish hallucination. As he wanders deeper into the museum, he uncovers hidden dimensions of this historic space, engaging in conversations with legendary painters from across different eras. Guided by the enigmatic Guardians of the Louvre, the artist is led through profound intersections of personal memory and broader human history, transforming a simple visit into an unforgettable exploration of art and existence.