"The Louvre is a morgue; you go there to identify your friends"

This quote by Jean Cocteau is a metaphor for the way in which the Louvre is a location of history and culture, but likewise a location of death and sadness. By comparing the Louvre to a morgue, Cocteau is recommending that the museum is a location where one can go to keep in mind and recognize the past. The quote implies that the Louvre is a place of grieving, where one can go to keep in mind and commemorate the excellent works of art and culture that have actually been lost with time. It also suggests that the Louvre is a place of reverence, where one can go to value the charm and significance of the masterpieces that have been preserved. In this method, the Louvre is a place of both life and death, where one can go to remember and honor the past.