“They say that when good Americans die” Oscar Wilde once said “they go to Paris…” Graffiti scribbled on Wilde’s tombstone in Pere Lachaise cemetery says “Here lies the greatest man who ever lived.” Maybe not the greatest as some of his fans think, but Wilde certainly was among the most clever. His aphorisms still bring a smile. For example about life he philosophized: “There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” Continue reading “Oscar Wilde at Petit Palais”
American Painting in the 1930’s
After its debut at the Art Institute of Chicago the exhibition “American Painting in the 1930’s” comes to Paris’ Musee Orangerie. The exhibition includes the iconic Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” along with lesser-known work produced during “an age of anxiety.” It is the first time that “American Gothic” (now in the Art Institute of Chicago) has been exhibited in Europe (to January 30, 2017) Continue reading “American Painting in the 1930’s”
Coluche Revisited
Paris’ Hotel de Ville pays homage via video clips, photos and memorabilia to the beloved French actor and comedian Coluche (1944-1986) with an exhibition marking the thirtieth anniversary of his death. The exhibition (until January 7, 2017) revisits his stage, television and movie career up to the announcement of his presidential candidacy. His “campaign” was supported by “Charlie Hebdo” with slogans such as “Before me France was divided in two, now it will be folded into fourths.” He wasn’t taken seriously until the Journal du Dimanche published a poll showing he was supported by 16% of the French voters. Under pressure from serious politicians he withdrew. Continue reading “Coluche Revisited”
Bernice Abbott & Vivian Maier at Les Douches la Galerie
One of the best photo exhibitions in Paris this month features the work of two photograpphers Berenice Abbott and Vivian Maier (Une Fantastique Passion) at Les Douches La Galerie. This is a tale of two cities and two fantastic female photographers. For Abbott her passion was photographing the city of New York. For Vivian Maier it was the streets and people of Chicago (until November 26, 2016). Continue reading “Bernice Abbott & Vivian Maier at Les Douches la Galerie”
Remarkable Parisian Facades
Strolling Paris’ boulevards and streets is part of the city’s mythology. The French word for stroller “flaneur” is colored with literary associations suggesting a man of leisure, urban explorer and connoisseur of the street… a philosophy and way of life.
Indeed one of the pleasures of living in Paris is strolling its streets and discovering hidden treasures. What makes Paris one of the most beautiful cities of the world are the city’s remarkable building facades. Now a new illustrated guide (in French) “Paris 100 Facades Remarquables” by Claude Mignot is a stroller’s guide to discovering some of the city’s most amazing architecture. Continue reading “Remarkable Parisian Facades”
Germaine Krull Retrospective
The Jeu du Paume exhibition “Germaine Krull (1897-1985) A Photographer’s Journey” is a retrospective of one of the 20th century’s most remarkable women photographers. From her early Berlin nudes to fashion for Sonia Delaunay to photojournalism with Paris magazines to her last photo book “Tibetans in India” the exhibit traces Krull’s amazing life story . Continue reading “Germaine Krull Retrospective”
Yves Saint Laurent’s 1971 Scandal
Last week, while having a drink with a friend at an outdoor cafe, we were commenting on how horrible the people on the street were dressed. “Everybody dresses like rats,” I said with disdain. “True. There is a lack of elegance and style on the street,” my friend added. With that, we headed a few blocks over to see some “real” fashion at the exhibition, “Yves Saint Laurent: 1971.” Continue reading “Yves Saint Laurent’s 1971 Scandal”
“Gaultier,” The Exhibition
After showcasing the works of France’s “bad boy” of fashion in nine other cities around the world, the much anticipated “Gaultier” exhibition has finally landed in Paris. For this tenth edition, installations were specifically designed for its newest venue, Le Grand Palais, and clips from French cinema and early TV personal designer were added. Moreover, about a third of the garments were replaced with others from his most recent couture collections, all in an effort to keep the show fresh and revelent. Continue reading ““Gaultier,” The Exhibition”
John Baxter’s Nights in Paris
Any guidebook can tell you what to see and do in Paris during the day: museums and monuments, cathedrals and croissants—the checklist of Parisian clichés is enough to keep any tourist busy until closing time. But what about when darkness falls on the City of Light? Continue reading “John Baxter’s Nights in Paris”
A Passion for Paris
With his new book “A Passion for Paris” David Downie looks at how Paris got the reputation of being the world’s number one romantic city. The author informs the reader straight away that it will be a personal journey “I wonder if I knew on that first April morning that this would be it” says Downie. “I was stuck and could not leave, indeed would spend decades prowling the streets seeking Félix Nadar’s gallery of images… Did I realize I would lose myself in libraries, house museums and administrative offices…attempting to penetrate the secrets of what might well be the world’s most enigmatic, compelling, paradoxical, maddening yet seductive city?” “I must have had some inkling the first time I climbed the seven stories to my maid’s room…” Continue reading “A Passion for Paris”
Florence Henri, Mirror of the Avant-Garde
“What I want above all in photography is to compose the image as I do with paintings…” said Florence Henri in 1927. The American born Paris-based painter did just that as she turned her attention to photography that year after taking a summer course at Moholy-Nagy’s legendary Bauhaus. Continue reading “Florence Henri, Mirror of the Avant-Garde”