“The Place We Live” at Paris Jeu de Paume is a retrospective of Robert Adams’ photography (until May 18, 2014). This exhibition, which has already been seen in several North American venues such as the Vancouver Art Gallery and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, is based on work purchased by The Yale Art Gallery (1,465 master prints) in 2005. Continue reading “Robert Adams Paris Retrospective”
Henri Cartier-Bresson Paris Retrospective
One of the world’s most influential photographers is featured with a retrospective at Paris’ Centre Georges Pompidou. Henri Cartier-Bresson, (August 22, 1908 – August 3, 2004) considered by many to be the father of photojournalism, blended a remarkable sense of design with the ability to capture the significance of an instant… the decisive moment. Continue reading “Henri Cartier-Bresson Paris Retrospective”
Cartier… a History of Style
The most dazzling ornaments aren’t found in any Paris department store this year, instead you will need to head over to the newest exhibition to open at the Grand Palais, “Cartier: Style and History.” Conceived as a history of decorative arts, this show of breathless baubles tells not only the story of Cartier but also retraces the evolution of tastes, aesthetics and diversity of cultures within the jewelry industry as told through precious stones and metals. Continue reading “Cartier… a History of Style”
Brassai, For the Love of Paris
Every so often back in the ’30s, dark stretches of nighttime Paris would be lit by a sulfurous flash. Brassai was at work, taking pictures in which conventional beauty held little appeal. Like Toulouse-Lautrec, he was a well-born, highly trained visual artist who found inspiration in the down and dirty. Parisians will now have a chance to see these mythic photos with the exhibition “Brassai, pour l’Amour de Paris” at the Hotel de Ville. Continue reading “Brassai, For the Love of Paris”
Helene Schmitz Kudzu Project
The Galerie Maria Lund is showing Swedish photographer Helene Schmitz’s “Kudzu Project,” a visual mediation on nature and the impermanence of things. The mostly black and white photographs are a poetic melange of documentation and art—at once beautiful and yet subtly terrifying like a David Lynch film. Continue reading “Helene Schmitz Kudzu Project”
Sergio Larrain, Vagabond Photographs
A retrospective exhibition of work by the enigmatic Chilean photographer Sergio Larrain, curated by Agnès Sire, was one of the highlights of last summer’s Rencontres d’Arles photo festival. Now Parisians have an opportunity to see photos by this remarkable but little-known photographer with an exhibition (Vagabondages) at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson Continue reading “Sergio Larrain, Vagabond Photographs”
Woody Allen on Life and Filmmaking
Woody Allen’s film “Cassandra’s Dream” is a story of death and guilt set in contemporary London. It tells the tale of two brothers (Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell) who while attempting to improve their miserable lives fall into dire straits with predictable unfortunate consequences. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival where Woody Allen made the following comments.
How We Didn’t Buy a House in Besançon
Jon Lewis’ charming book “How We Didn’t Buy a House in Besancon” tells the tale of challenges encountered when buying property in France. Required reading for anyone contemplating retiring here. Finally succeeding at finding his dream home, he and his wife Josée now live in the South of France, eight hours drive from Rome and quite a long way, as it turned out, from Besançon. Following is an excerpt from his book where he provides practical information for buying a house in France: Continue reading “How We Didn’t Buy a House in Besançon”
Vanessa Winship Paris Photography Exhibit
“She Dances on Jackson” is the title of Vanessa Winship’s new exhibition of black and white photographs at the Fondation Henri Cartier Bresson in Paris (until July 28). Winship won the 2011 Henri Cartier Bresson Award with 30,000 euros allowing her to travel across the United States, from California to Virginia, New Mexico to Montana to photograph the fabled ‘American dream.’ The exhibition of photos resulting from this trip present a lyrical conversation between landscape and portraits of the people that inhabit it. Continue reading “Vanessa Winship Paris Photography Exhibit”
Discovering Quiet Paris
Paris is the most popular tourist destination in the world with 28.9 million tourists a year. Sometimes, especially in the summer months, it seems that they are all trying to go to the same place you are. A new book “Quiet Paris” by Siobhan Wall is a guide to over one hundred wonderful off the beaten path places for savoring the quiet delights of this most seductive of cities. Continue reading “Discovering Quiet Paris”
Laure Albin Guillot at Jeu de Paume
People into photo know many of the names of photographers associated with Paris such as Doisneau, Lisette Model or Dora Maar, but Laure Albin Guillot’s name usually draws a blank. Now a retrospective exhibition at the Jeu de Paume revisiting the work of this unsung photography heroine is a step in the direction of reestablishing Guillot’s (1879-1962) place in the history of French photography Continue reading “Laure Albin Guillot at Jeu de Paume”