Three Centuries of Paris Fashion at Les Arts Décoratif

Bonjour,

Some days are slow and lazy, and this has been one of them.  The weather is still quite cool, and we managed a pouring rain about 1:30 which kept us inside at the Musée d’Arts Décoratif.  I began my day early with a much-needed haircut.  I always hold my breath a bit when I do this, but as usual, it turned out well!

After lunch, we went to the Louvre to see the famous pyramid disappear which is a “trompe- l’œil” or trick of the eye.  Here is some info from the Louvre website about it from an interview with JR, the artist (Hugo Vitrani).

“Art allows us to call into question our visual and intellectual points of view.”
The Louvre’s Pyramid seems to disappear beneath your collage, and we can’t help but be reminded of the heated debate led by the detractors of I.M. Pei’s architectural project, which was unveiled in March of 1989 as part of François Mitterand’s “Grand Louvre” program. What’s the point of making the Pyramid disappear?
“Making the Pyramid disappear is a way for me to distance myself from my subject. The feud between traditional and modern tastes in art and architecture is nothing new. The Pyramid, Buren’s columns at the Palais-Royal, and the Pompidou Center—all of these caused controversy. My work is about transmitting history to better understand the present, and find echoes with our own times. What happened in the past is part of a broader context that can still have relevance for today. By erasing the Louvre Pyramid, I am highlighting the way Pei made the Louvre relevant for his time, while bringing the Louvre back to its original state. The Pyramid is one of the most photographed French monuments. I am re-directing its energy, because people are going to have to move around it. They are going to look for the best angle to get the full impact of the anamorphic image, and really make the Pyramid disappear.”

Close by is a separate small museum which is part of the Louvre called Les Arts Decoratif.  They have fabulous special exhibitions and this summer’s is called “Fashion Forward” or Three Centuries of Fashion.”  1700’s, 1800’s and 1900’s are represented.  Here are some examples of what we saw in chronological order, maybe! 

Tomorrow, we are moving to our other, larger apartment with 350 square feet!  It’s going to feel like a mansion. This afternoon, here is a wistful image I captured through our little window. We will never forget this little nook!

Think of us tomorrow and pray for sunny skies.

A bientôt

L & B