Paris Originals: 2012

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Zesty Literary Scandal Peirre Louys, Illustrated by Georges Barbier

GeorgeBarbier

Les Chansons de Bilitis,1922

George Barbier was a master of scintillating illustration.

One book in particular Les Chansons de Bilitis,, 1922. Written in 1894 by Pierre Louys who claimed to have discovered and translated the work of the ancient poetess Bilitis a, contemporary of Sappho. It contains 143 prose poems, Songs of Bilitis.

The courtesan poet Bilitis was supposed to have been to the daughter of A Greek father and

a Phoenician mother. The pretense that Louys was the translator of an ancient text did not last very long, and "translator" Louÿs was soon outed as Bilitis herself.

This only enhanced interest in the book.

The Songs of Bilitis was praised as a fount of elegant sensuality and refined style, even more extraordinary for the time was the author's compassionate portrayal of lesbian and female sexuality.

Dover republished the 1926 edition of the English translation of this book

with illustrations by Willy Pogany

From my collection of illustrations by George Barbier

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Marie Antoinette Goes On The Block Again

Image from Olivier Coutau-Bégarie
France is a place were they keep digging up old relics.
They love their patrimoine, religious or otherwise.

European size 36 1/2

For your tiny tootsies originally owned by

La Reine Marie -Antoinette.

These silk slippers were Auctioned off to day in Paris

Originally given to Alexandre-Bernard Ju- Des Retz ( 1752-1837)

as a souvenir in1775, (kinky)

Sold! for 50,000 Euros

Image from Olivier Coutau-Bégarie

Also offered today a fabric swatch from one of her gowns.

Pink of course, originally kept in an almanac by one of her secretaries.

image from Billiant Effects by Marcia Pointon
Earrings, silver maker unknown
collection of the Musée Carnavalet, Paris.

Sadly we all know how this sorry tale of fashion excess ended.

Imagine wearing celebratory jewels of such a bloody mess. Positively ghoulish

Sunday, September 23, 2012

L'Automne 2012

So sad, not only the loss of light, the somber autumnal mood with the changing season, but my only child has moved to England to continue his schooling.

I am left bereft in Paris.

The Seine

This is one of the best and most accurate films about France. It very droll and very informed.

There are three episodes, stick with it it is well worth it.

Episode 2 was very illuminating. Sadly it was this episode 2 that confirmed our understanding that education within the French system was no longer an option for or son.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

July 14, Bastille Day

Image Musee Carnavalet Paris

Today the French Celebrate Murder and mayhem

amongst other things.

I have been watching the British historian Michael Wood's brilliant BBC series

"Story of England".

How is it that the British have been able to maintain the Monarchy?

A Monarchy which represents a symbol of unity.

A Giant disco-ball is suspended from the Eiffel Tower,
fireworks and thumping American disco music, not a single French tune.

With strains of the Village People and Donna Summer, it made me miss New York and the days of Studio 54.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Paris Metro

Frogs entering the metro French style.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Taming the Wild Paintbox

Color has preoccupied me all of my life. I am fairly drunk with color shades and hues, I can experience rapture & ecstasy.

My eyes drink in what is fleeting and often indescribable.

My career took me on a surreptitious route from illustration to jewelry design and back again.

Jewelry is about colorful gems and reflected light.

I had an accumulation of watercolors in pans and tubes from various manufacturers from around the globe. Recently in planning a new series of paintings I had to put all of the paint in one coherent place. For this series I have had to limit the palette.