Xavier Salmon will officially step down from his position as head of the Graphic Arts Department at the Louvre Museum on December 31, 2025, marking the end of a controversial 12-year tenure. The departure, which was originally scheduled to occur three years ago, was postponed when Salmon's mandate was renewed at the last minute, but this time the decision has been finalized and no renewal will be offered.
The museum has already published a call for applications to find Salmon's replacement for the next three-year term. This move signals the institution's commitment to bringing fresh leadership to one of its most important departments, which oversees the world's largest collection of drawings, prints, and graphic works.
Salmon's departure comes as little surprise to many in the art world, particularly regular readers of La Tribune de l'Art, who have long criticized his management style and approach. Over his 12 years in the position, Salmon managed to alienate a significant majority of curators both in France and abroad, as well as art dealers and collectors who regularly work with the museum.
The criticism of Salmon's leadership has been documented extensively, with many pointing to his handling of relationships within the international art community as particularly problematic. His tenure was marked by tensions with various stakeholders in the art world, creating what many describe as an unnecessarily adversarial environment around the department's operations.
Few people in the art community are expected to mourn Salmon's departure, according to industry observers. The widespread dissatisfaction with his leadership style suggests that his exit may be welcomed by those who have had to work with the Graphic Arts Department during his tenure, potentially opening the door for improved relationships and collaboration under new leadership.
The transition period leading up to December 31, 2025, will likely focus on ensuring continuity in the department's operations while the search for a new department head progresses. The Louvre's Graphic Arts Department remains one of the world's most prestigious positions in the field, making the selection of Salmon's successor a closely watched process in international museum circles.
