Paris 1900

As requested more Paris 1900 from the Petit Palais on til August 19

Art Nouveau bronze head

Stunning black opal brooch in the Art Nouveau style.

Curvilinear lines infuse everything in daily life

Thanks to the likes of Mucha, Gallé, Guimard and Lalique.

No straight line is left uncurved.

Many new railroad stations were built for the Exposition: Gare de Lyon, Gare des Invalides

And Gare d'Orsay now the musee d'Orsay.

As well as the first Metro line, the Metropolitain.

The views from Pont Alexandre must have been astonishing - 50,000,000 visitors flocked to Paris.

Though the best view may have been up in a balloon far from the maddening crowds...still is.

These illustrations...

Of everyday folk looked a lot like

Maurice Sendek figures to me.

High society Parisiennes decked out in fur and lacy garments

No wonder they were constantly fanning themselves.

For amusement a bit of embroidering perhaps?

While in the back rooms of fashion salons other Parisiennes stitched day and night

To fill shop orders in the big new emporiums like Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché and Printemps.

Something with a bit of ribbon Madame?

This pile of ribbons, flowers, leaves looks not so different from this fruity tarte from Gosselin on Bvd Saint Germain. Just pop this on your head and pretend you're back in Paris 1900...