Often in defiance of prevailing trends, the Frenchman devised groundbreaking exhibitions for the Grand Palais, the Centre Pompidou and the Jeu de Paume, and reintroduced the public to artists such as ...

In France, where literature can be a hot front-page issue, the biggest story of the week—and the year’s liveliest press brawl —raged around the blonde head of an eight-year-old poetess. Was little ...