Editing Étienne-Louis Boullée (section)

== Legacy ==
Boullée's ideas had a major influence on his contemporaries, not least because of his role in teaching other important architects such as [[Jean Chalgrin]], [[Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart]], and [[Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand]]. Some of his work only saw the light of day in the 20th century; his book ''Architecture, essai sur l'art'' ("Essay on the Art of Architecture), arguing for an emotionally committed Neoclassicism, was only published in 1953. The volume contained his work from 1778 to 1788, which mostly comprised designs for public buildings on a wholly impractical grand scale.

Boullée's fondness for grandiose designs has caused him to be characterised as both a megalomaniac and a visionary. His focus on polarity (offsetting opposite design elements) and the use of light and shadow was highly innovative, and continues to influence architects to this day. He was "rediscovered" in the 20th century and has influenced recent architects such as [[Aldo Rossi]].

[[Peter Greenaway]]'s film ''[[The Belly of an Architect]]'' (1987) concerns a fictitious architect who is staging an exhibition devoted to Boullée's work. The film contains many visual references to Boullée.

[[What Dreams May Come (film)|What Dreams May Come]] (1998) features a Library inspired by Boullée's 1785 "Deuxieme Projet pour la Bibliothèque du Roi"<ref>{{Cite web |last=janicu |date=2011-01-06 |title=Books on Film: What Dreams May Come |url=https://specficromantic.com/2011/01/06/books-on-film-what-dreams-may-come/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=specficromantic |language=en}}</ref>

[[Ethel Cain]]'s song "Etienne", from the studio record ''[[Perverts (album)|Perverts]]'' (2025), is named after Boullée. Cain has stated that the song "was [her] ode to him", paying tribute to his life and work.<ref>{{Cite news |title=† |url=https://mothercain.tumblr.com/post/772166681106825216/did-the-work-of-the-architect-etienne-louis |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250120174208/https://mothercain.tumblr.com/post/772166681106825216/did-the-work-of-the-architect-etienne-louis |archive-date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-01-26 |work=Tumblr}}</ref>