Oscar Wilde at Père Lachaise: Fans and Conservation

Oscar Wilde’s monument, sculpted by Jacob Epstein, is a modernist winged figure that turned into a shrine. Fans leave notes; once, lipstick kisses accumulated — now a glass barrier mediates touch and preservation.

Design & Iconography

• Winged flight: A figure that suggests escape and spirit.
• Material: Stone polished for light and abstraction.
• Inscription: Text anchors biography to place.

Ritual vs. Conservation

• Touch desire: Fans seek contact, a proxy for communion.
• Barrier logic: Controls lipstick acids and staining.
• Interpretation: Panels narrate why limits protect meaning.

$$ ext{Surface Risk Index} = 0.5, ext{oils} + 0.3, ext{dyes} + 0.2, ext{abrasion} $$

📸 Gallery

A tomb becomes a stage for modern devotion — carefully managed to keep the story legible.

[^lipstick]: The barrier was introduced after conservation reports identified cumulative staining from lipstick tributes.