Chasing Paris...Chasing Art...
I am a lover of art. I collect art and have it all over my walls at home. I am deeply moved by art in all its forms. When I turned 39, I mapped out a bucket list. I wanted to do a few select things before I turned 40. When I turned 40 in November, I was able to plan a trip to do one of the items on my bucket list. I really wanted to visit Paris and explore the art that I love so much for a week. I was in Paris from December 28th through January 5th.
(Here is the French Kiss Soundtrack to keep you company. Enjoy!)
I had been to Paris seventeen years earlier as a college student and loved the art, but thoroughly hated Paris itself. I decided that my love for art trumped my disgust for the city and I booked my trip anyway.
I stayed in a local's apartment on Rue Juliette that I booked through AirBnB.
https://www.airbnb.com/
It was a block from the Metro and I could see the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Muse de Orsay from the corner. It was a 16th century addition through the old servants entrance with the original staircase.
Getting lost my first day as I roamed the streets, I came across store windows still decorated for Xmas. I would stop nearly every fifteen minutes to take a picture of the beautiful doors hidden throughout the streets of Paris.
This was my favorite door!
I went to the Muse de Orsay and fell in love every step, every glance, every turned corner. I found myself in love all over again with the art. But, I found that I looked at art differently this time. Maybe the seventeen years between had changed the way I looked at the world, how I perceived myself and how I was affected by art around me.
Musee d'Orsay
I am desperately afraid of heights, but I was determined to capture the inside of this museum to remember the vast magnitude and beauty of this converted train station.
Degas. How could one not love and appreciate the artist of the dancers. His study in blue is one of my favorites. His work always reminds me of someone capturing a moment from behind the stage curtain. There is always a feeling of anticipation when I look at his art. I bought reproductions for myself and for my two daughters at the museum gift store, so they can start their own personal art collection. They are both dancers like I was when I was younger.
There were several clocks inside the museum. I felt like a character out of Peter Pan as I watched the hands move with the time.
The Muse de Orsay is in an old train station. I love the old metal as a backdrop with the stone and the sculptures. I love mixed and layered textures. The building itself was a piece of art.
My daughter got a kick out of this picture. I took it knowing she would caption it "Hey mom, look at me!" Who says art can't have a sense of humor?
I stared at this piece of art for the longest at the Muse de Orsay. I was so captured and mesmerized by it.
The next day I went to the L'Orangerie and then back to the Muse de Orsay. I got in line early in the morning and the twilight glow over the city was beautiful. The pieces at the L'Orangerie were just as beautiful. I particularly loved the Renoir of the girls at the piano.
Musee L'Orangeri
Paris has a multitude of carousels throughout the city. It was charming and gave Paris that romantic quality it is known for. For me, I felt like a little girl caught in a daydream. It was lovely.
Paris is extremely cold in the winter. The wind makes it so chilly that you have to stop for coffee periodically throughout the day. But, the one thing in Paris I could always count on was the quality of the cafe creme I ordered everywhere.
Pure cream in coffee every day? What could be better?
I loved that most cafes and restaurants had art hanging all over their walls.
My Paris companion. Looking so dapper in his bow tie.
The rest of the day we ventured out to Notre Dame.
I must have taken a thousand pictures inside and out of the cathedral. When is it enough? When does one feel the moment has been captured?
Notre Dame turned 850 in 2013. This is a picture of the columns showing the original coloring. So much beauty to be seen if you just open your eyes to everything.
This little cafe near the cathedral was fun, but I wouldn't recommend the brauts. However, they had excellent spaghetti and wine.
These are the front doors of the cathedral at sunset. So much detail. It was like lace over fabric.
The catacombs beneath the cathedral were exciting to see. The exhibit is very educational and interactive. Even young kids would endure the museum.
Outside the cathedral, a man was performing. This song made my day! I gave him all the change in my pocket.
New Year's Eve was an adventure in itself in Paris. The streets were still lit with Xmas lights and the city seemed to glow.
Joan of Arc can be found next to the Louvre. And during a rainstorm at night, she seemed to be triumphant. But still, my first thought when I saw her and remember the lessons in school was "What a crazy chick."
I had escargot and a raw hamburger but plenty of wine to make the new meal choices worth it.
The ambiance in most little restaurants is charming.
Taking the metro was the only way to get around. This evening, we ran into a happy surprise.
I finally made my way to the Louvre. My first day was an exquisite day of exploration and discovery. I got lost. I let myself get lost. When I got my bearings, I marked the map of the Louvre to make sure I saw every piece of art work.
The Louvre
My first picture at the Louvre. I decided to capture art how I see it, and how it shouldn't be perceived as a piece of furniture. I love her hands. The book. The folds of her dress. Even down to her fingernails and the bend of her wrist. These are the things that make my heart flutter.
I loved running into this artist as he sketched these Greek sculptures. I love sculptures. This little nook was so quiet and empty, I tiptoed around him and silently took this picture. He was completely consumed by his work.
I have the oddest ways of taking pictures of art with myself. But, if I could, I would take them off the wall and put them in my pocket.
I love this sculpture. There were so many crowds in front of it, that I went to the back, and to my surprise (but not really) the back of it was just as poetic. This is just a testament to art, that from every angle, there is another interpretation, another story, another perspective. The graceful lines of this sculpture and the subtle lighting from the Louvre made this a work of personal art through my own lens.
This piece of art that was on the wall. It was all that was left from the side of a building. It almost made me laugh at the thought of this incomplete wall structure looking like deliberate modern art. This piece spoke volumes to me as I interpreted the art in a modern light. "Art being art."
The Venus de Milo. It is on the Louvre's map as a "must see." So, of course, the hall was completely full of visitors making their way to the front of the sculpture. What I have learned about art is there is more than one way to view it. Art was not created by these master artists to be seen from the front point of view. So, dealing with the crowds gave me a forced perspective on art and I was able to capture art as I see it. This turned out more perfect than if I had been directly in front of it. And the French girl with the red beret? Yes, I couldn't have planned that better. The natural light through defused museum dust made this a beautiful reflection of how I hold art inside me.
I deliberately took this picture of her arms. The buttons, the creases, the cotton under garment, velvet to satin and little flower. Amazing!
Pure whimsy!
If you look close, you can see Cupid and Pysche with the drowns of crowds in the background. I got lost in this hall with the statues without company or guests. I found this woman and fell in love. She had no name. I felt as if I could reach out and take the thin gossamer veil from her face and ask her where she was headed. She was so life like. The draping of her garment across her one breast, the grasp of her hand on her hip, her eyelids. The way the veil hangs from her nose and down her mouth as if she has something to tell me. These are the pieces of art that people pass by because they are so caught up on the cliches of the Louvre. Such a pity for them, pure ecstasy for me to have her all to myself.
I stopped to take a cafe creme break while in the Louvre. They brought out the espresso, cream and whipped cream for me to assemble myself. It was the best latte I have had in my life!
This is a shot outside the Louvre window. The Louvre itself is an amazing piece of art. I couldn't have captured this better. The mosaics on the floor, the pillars, the sunlight marking the beauty mathematically.
After a day at the Louvre, we hit the Moulin Rouge district. This area, to me, was the arm pit trash hole of Paris. I walked up from the Metro, took this picture of Moulin Rouge and walked back down into the Metro to get out of the area as fast as I got there.
I was excited to spend my second day at the Louvre.
I have to say that I was disappointed that my favorite sculpture was being restored. She was one of the reasons I REALLY wanted to go to the Louvre. But, hopefully it will be in perfect shape the next time I visit. Take a minute to check Samothrace out at the below links.
Winged Victory
(she is a reflection of my soul. I was sad to miss her)
That is the Mona Lisa on top of my head. Another cliche in the Louvre. There is so many other works of art worthy of such attention. But again, this is my luck to have the other beautiful works of art to myself.
This piece of art is by Soreno. He is always overlooked by Leonardo da Vinci. I loved the softness of her brow and the red of her dress.
People forget to look up. The ceilings at the Louvre are magnificent!
Her hands are exquisite. The shadowing. the Blue. This is a perfect piece of art.
In the French courtyard of the Louvre, there is natural light and beautiful sculptures. I loved the bustle of this sculpture.
Yes, I went back to visit this beautiful lady. Again, I was alone and I was able to establish a relationship with this sculpture. She was just as beautiful the second day.
Sculptures were my favorite at the Louvre, I cannot deny.
The Louvre did NOT disappoint. I will go back again in my lifetime. I hope to bring my daughters when they are old enough to appreciate it. The Louvre is a lifetime achievement that should be on everyone's bucket list.
The courtyard at The Louvre.
When I was fifteen, Annick Goutal came out with her first fragrance "Gardenia." I fell in love with the smell. I could never afford the perfume. While I was in Paris, I went to her small little shop and was bought this lovely gift of "Gardenia" which took me awhile to find after smelling several other scents. It's amazing how the mind remembers the smells of memories and the past.
Belle Epoche designs on all the metro station entrances.
Our last day we got lost in Chatelet area. We came across the Concierge, which ended up being the holding place of Marie Antoinette before she went to the guillotine. It was an amazing historical site.
The Concierge from the bridge.
Marie Antoinette's holding cell.
This is the intake cell before you were sent to a smaller room to await beheading.
This is the courtyard.
The stairwell to the cells.
The Chatelet area was charming. The store fronts were so colorful.
Local shops.
I loved the streets along the river. I bought several of these prints from booths like this.
Locals walking with baguettes.
There is a unique glow in Paris down some of the streets.
Taking a picture with a national monument. This is how you do it. Ha!
Whimsy on the streets!
We hit the local grocery store and made our own food at the apartment.
It was so delicious and much cheaper.
It wouldn't be a complete trip to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower!
This is how you take a picture of you and the Eiffel tower. Believe it or not, this is taken about a mile away.
Paris was amazing. I loved the art, the culture, the history and the company. It was the best birthday present, ever! I hope to visit another time and see it through my daughters' eyes.
I hope you enjoyed my journey Chasing Paris through my love of art!
La vie est belle, chasser (life is beautiful, chase it)
(More Songs, just in case you're still in the mood!)
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