André Malraux, a man of Paris and the world. Paris-born André Malraux was a novelist, art theorist, and France’s first Minister of Cultural Affairs in the 1960s. He was also described as France’s ‘man of the world’ and ‘ambassador of the world.’ It was said that he was a man of action and a manContinue reading “André Malraux, a man of Paris and the world”
Tag Archives: Paris
Paris bouquinistes: selling second-hand books along the Seine
Paris bouquinistes: selling second-hand books along the Seine. Along the banks of the river Seine in Paris, the bouquinistes continue to sell second-hand books, just as they have done since the 19thcentury when the city permitted booksellers to have a permanent location. Closed and locked at night, the typically green boxes sit on top ofContinue reading “Paris bouquinistes: selling second-hand books along the Seine”
The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his good Theresa
The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his good Theresa. The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau is the autobiography of writer, composer, and philosopher Rousseau (1712-1778), written in 1782. Born in Geneva, his mother died in childbirth, and his watchmaker father raised him until the age of ten. From ten to sixteen years of age, he livedContinue reading “The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his good Theresa”
Félix Potin building in Paris: renovated and revealed
Félix Potin building in Paris: renovated and revealed. In October 2013, the Félix Potin turret was under wraps. Today the Félix Potin building has been renovated and revealed. The Félix Potin building is on the rue de Rennes in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Rue de Rennes was originally designed to connect the Gare Montparnasse (theContinue reading “Félix Potin building in Paris: renovated and revealed”
Marie Curie Museum in Paris: a woman of science
Marie Curie Museum in Paris: a woman of science. The Curie Museum in Paris is the laboratory museum of Marie and Pierre Curie, where they conducted physics and chemistry research from 1900-1930s, particularly in the study of radium and cancer research. Before the laboratory was built, Marie Curie (1867-1934) and her husband Pierre (1859-1906) hadContinue reading “Marie Curie Museum in Paris: a woman of science”
Photographs of Paris skies
Photographs of Paris skies. Paris skies are full of beautiful colour and light, morning and night. Here is a small collection of photographs of Paris skies.
Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in Paris – just around the corner
Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in Paris– just around the corner. American author Gertrude Stein lived in Paris. She followed her brother Leo to London in 1902 when she was twenty-eight years old. She had lived in Paris before, but only as a three- and four-year-old with her parents, before the family returned toContinue reading “Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in Paris – just around the corner”
Claude Monet and his Water Lilies
Claude Monet and his Water Lilies. Water Lilies is not one painting. It is a series of paintings that French Impressionist Oscar-Claude Monet (1840-1926) worked on for thirty years, inspired by the water garden at his home in Giverny in Normandy. He created about 300 paintings of water lilies, with about forty in large format.Continue reading “Claude Monet and his Water Lilies”
Parisian architecture: ‘castles in the air’
Parisian architecture: ‘castles in the air.’ In May 2015, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, wrote an article in Politico stating that the French capital has become a testing ground for new technologies. She headlined the article, in English, ‘Parisian castles in the air.’ It is an interesting headline. France is famous for its castles –Continue reading “Parisian architecture: ‘castles in the air’”
For the Parisian love of carousels
For the Parisian love of carousels. The French love the carousel, the merry-go-round: le carrousel, la manège. And I love them too. The turning-rides and round-abouts may have been around since Roman times, but the English word ‘carousel’ originated from the French word. It originated from an eccentric 18th century Frenchman, Guillaume Joseph Roussel (1743-1807), known asContinue reading “For the Parisian love of carousels”