Les chuchoteuses (English: “The Gossipers”) is a 2002 bronze outdoor sculpture by Rose-Aimée Bélanger installed along Montreal’s Rue Saint-Paul, in Quebec, Canada.
I took the above photo ten years ago on my second visit to the beautiful city of Montreal. I’ve been beating myself up ever since for cutting off the middle gossiper’s toes!
Here’s a pic of the full sculpture from Wikipedia, toes and all:
Perhaps I should take the advice of this quote:
“Don’t beat yourself up for not being perfect. But you might want to kick your own ass
if you’re not trying to get better.” – Hal Elrod
By the way, I stopped beating myself over real gossipers a long time ago. 🙂
Jennifer, I didn’t even notice the toes as I was rather wrapped up in their facial expressions! Exquisite statue and one can’t help but wonder about the latest gossip!
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It is exquisite, Annika. I love their expressions too. I’m in awe of sculptures like these! xo
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What a fun statue! But as a woman, my hope is that somewhere near there’s one where three MEN are gossiping. I have found that men like to gossip just as much as women – only in their case it’s called ‘hashing things out,’ or ‘business talk.’
Funny about perfection. Never possible, and imperfection can be a heck of a lot more interesting… xo
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Pam, you’re absolutely right about that. When we were in Italy, it was quite common to see groups of men out dining or drinking and talking nonstop, and apparently it was common to leave the women at home. Some men I know personally are huge gossips.
And yes, perfection is highly overrated.
xo
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See? Thanks for validating what I wrote about male-gossipers. The other discriminatory expression I don’t like is that woman ‘babble’ when they get together and talk, while men “discuss.” U G H. ;-0
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Major UGH!
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Perfection is scary. Your picture connects more strongly with me, because I’d have committed the same mistake – and only because I would want to fill my day with more sights and smells and sounds 🙂 Perfectionists spend a lot of time trying to get things right and then fretting over every little thing that they couldn’t. BTW, did you notice, in your picture, the expressions on their faces are clearer and stronger?
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You raise an excellent point. Think of those Instagrammers who are always snapping perfect pics to show everyone, but this pretty much means they seldom live in the moment. Most likely I took an imperfect photo because I was too busy “filling my day with more sights and smells and sounds.” 🙂
My photo is from a different angle so you can see their expressions better. So I did get that right! Thanks so much for dropping by with your comment!
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Absolutely 🙂 and you are welcome. I’m not a perfectionist and I think it makes me a happier person. I’ve seen how the quest for perfection results in a continuous stream of stress.
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It’s a slippery slope!
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Yes, it is 🙂
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Perfection is overrated..:)
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That’s true, George. I should give myself a break, at least in this instance. 🙂
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Thanks for the smile 😀
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Any time, Val. 😊
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I’m glad the gossipers you were beating yourself up about were in bronze Jennifer, I was a little concerned about what had happened! But some missing toes, that’s not something to feel too bad about 🙂
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Pardon me for my little trickery there, Andrea. I couldn’t resist. 😉 Still bugs me about the toes though!
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I so enjoyed this post. I first came across Les Chuchoteuses by chance on a 2015 trip to Montreal,. was back this this summer and sought them out this time for a little visit. They didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know … 🙂
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Thanks, Marlene. I do envy you for going back again this past summer!
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I was there for four sweltering but ultimately fabulous days in the Old Port area, with side trips to other parts of the city. I could go again and again!
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You are much closer than I, so that’s an advantage. I would go again and again too.
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What a great sculpture, toes and all! I don’t bother with gossip or gossipers, unless it’s good news and spoken with kindness. Then I’m all for it. 🙂
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Good point, Diana. The problem with gossip is that it’s not always true, good or bad. But yes, I do love this gossiping trio!
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How big is this statue?
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They aren’t quite adult size, more the sizes of children! 😊
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I love that statue (and where it is in Montreal, great area to walk). Thank you for reminding me!
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You’re welcome! Yes, it is a lovely area of the city. I remember it well. 😊
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I like how you said in real life you have gotten over the gossipers – but whew – they do exist – and I ran into one last year at a funeral and finally saw her true colors (from last times of seeing her mouth in action) and I walked away realizing this was the biggest gossiper I knew.
And wonderful photo – even without the toes and did not even notice at first
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Thanks! True colours have a way of doing that, don’t they?
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so true (oh boy – enough of that true word ha)
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Love the Elrod quote! People who gossip often have low self-esteem and are obviously small-minded. I walk away from those peeps!
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It’s a fine quote with useful advice. I was happy to find it.
I walk away from those types of toxic people too, Jill.
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You got me with that title, Jennifer. I’m glad you clarified! I haven’t seen this sculpture. It is perfect for the intent.
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It is perfect. As for the title, it’s turning out to be click-bait. My stats are booming!
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I love this statue, with or without the toes. It says so much.
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Me too, Darlene. Lifelike poses we can identify with.
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Or you could just look at it as an excuse to come back and take the shot again 😉
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Great idea! I’d be all for that, Norm. I don’t think I could ever tire of Montreal. 🙂
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I love this sculpture- what are those ladies saying? I hope they aren’t talking about me 😉😮 By the way, I didn’t even notice that the middle lady’s toes were missing in your pic!
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Yes, Barbara, what are they saying? They certainly draw you in, don’t they? One thing I’m sure of: if they’re talking about you it must be something nice. 🙂
I notice the toes missing because of that pesky perfectionist side of me.
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Great post 😁
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Thanks!
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