Rosemonde Gérard

To mark the entry of her work into the public domain, the Villa Arnaga is dedicating a major exhibition to Rosemonde Gérard.

Through numerous, often unpublished documents, the nuances of a life marked by creation, dedication, and remarkable literary resilience are revealed.

Youth and early poetic work (1885-1890)

Raised in an artistic environment, Rosemonde Gérard published Les Pipeaux in 1889, which was awarded a prize by the French Academy. Critics hailed her as an innovative voice, and her poem L'Éternelle chanson made her famous thanks to the now emblematic lines: "I love you today more than yesterday and much less than tomorrow."

Edmond Rostand: Love, Poetry and Devotion (1890-1910)

After her marriage to Edmond Rostand, she put her own writing on hold to support her husband's career. Rosemonde played a pivotal role: she opened doors for him in literary circles, facilitated his crucial encounters—notably with Jules Clarétie and Sarah Bernhardt—and actively participated in his work, even partially financing the creation of Cyrano de Bergerac. Her involvement went far beyond that of a muse: she advised, copied, researched, and encouraged him, contributing to the playwright's great successes.

Literary Renaissance (1911-1953)

From 1911 onward, Rosemonde Gérard regained her creative freedom. She wrote with her son Maurice, collaborated with the composer Tiarko Richepin, and published plays, poems, and lectures. The 1920s marked the height of her career: six plays were performed, including *La Tour Saint-Jacques* at the Comédie-Française. She also published *L'Arc-en-Ciel*, which was awarded a prize by the French Academy, and a biography of Madame de Genlis. A prominent figure in cultural circles, she participated in literary life, salons, and radio programs, and championed women poets in *Les Muses françaises* (1943).

Living with her son Maurice, she died in 1953. Her work, long overshadowed by the fame of Edmond Rostand, nevertheless reveals a major creator, to be rediscovered today.