Open hand on a book

The work "Hand Opened Over a Book" is a contemporary sculpture located on the Rampe des Jardins in Angoulême. It is part of the city’s “small heritage” and was created by François-Xavier Lalanne, a French sculptor, engraver, painter, and visual artist.

History of the Work

Created to reflect Angoulême’s deep connection to books, images, and comic books, this sculpture combines two major symbols:

• the hand, which evokes creation, the artist’s gesture, writing, and human craftsmanship;
• the open book, which represents knowledge, the transmission of knowledge, and culture.

Its location in Angoulême holds special significance: the city is known as a major cultural center dedicated to the visual arts and the “ninth art,” particularly through comic books.

Designed in 1979 as part of the Ensemble-491 urban planning project, which focused on the redevelopment of the pedestrian area and Place Saint-Martial in Angoulême, the work was installed in a public space and unveiled in 1981.
In 2000, during the redevelopment of Place Saint-Martial, it was moved to the Jardin Vert (Mallet Park), along with two other sculptures by François-Xavier Lalanne, “Hand with Pencil” and “Lalanne Bird", where they can still be seen today.
The models and preparatory studies for this ensemble are preserved in the collections of the National Center for the Visual Arts (CNAP).

Architecture and Urban Integration

Unlike an isolated monument, “Hand Opened Over a Book” functions as a work of urban art. It is set within the landscape of the upper town, on the Rampe des Jardins, an area characterized by changes in elevation, views of the Charente Valley, and the interplay between built spaces and walking paths.

The work engages in a dialogue with Angoulême’s historic architecture:

• the ramparts and pathways of the medieval plateau;
• the historic facades of the upper town;
• the Romanesque and classical monuments that make up the heritage landscape.

This contemporary presence serves as a reminder that Angoulême’s heritage is not limited to ancient monuments: it also includes the artistic creations that enrich the city’s current identity.

Heritage Value

Sculpture is part of Angoulême’s recent artistic heritage. It illustrates several key themes of the city:

• written and graphic culture;
• artistic creation;
• the transmission of knowledge;
• the dialogue between historical heritage and contemporary art.

It thus complements a heritage landscape that includes Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the city walls, mansions, traces of the city’s industrial paper-making history, and cultural facilities related to the visual arts.

In short, “Main ouverte sur livre” is a small work in terms of its dimensions but significant in its symbolism: it makes Angoulême a city where historical heritage and contemporary creation come together around a single idea, that of culture as a shared act.