Les Pavés de Paris

One of our thumbnail class assignments (No.3) was go outside, randomly look and then draw✏️ whatever we see

I painted the pavé/ cobblestones in my street.

They are already thumbnail shaped…kind of

There are a lot of cobblestone streets all over Paris. The Romans first invented cobblestone streets. 

During the reign of Philip II (1179–1223), Paris’ streets were paved. 

Paved, pavement = pavé 

Old French pavement, from the verb paver +‎ -ment, based on Latin pavimentum (“a hard surface, a pounded surface”).

Own your own iconic cobblestone of Paris pavement. Sometimes Paris tourist office boutique, inside Hotel de Ville, sells pavé for around 9€, though I doubt they do mail order📮 

They weigh up to 6 pounds.

Weighing in much less (though you might not) are pavés chocolats at La Maison d’Isabelle. Available only on Tuesdays (market day at Mutualité Maubert) or you could miss out - a limited edition 👍

A hunk of French 🇫🇷 boeuf is called a ‘pavé’

So is a squarish hunk of saumon.

Clever chocolatier Michel Chaudun created the best chocolate pavés in mini size 

And a full size hunk of chocolate.

As a 40th anniversary homage, an emblem of 

The student Mai 68 uprising in Paris.

A short explanation video in French (there are many on Youtube)

I learned the granite blocks come from Bretagne!

There are French songs you can sing between bites of your pavé chocolat viennoiserie or ganache cube…

 Chocolatier Patrick Roger  created his version of the Mai 68 pavé to celebrate his birthday. It looks more realistic, is granite-like & costs a bundle (79€)

Yesterday at Musee d’Art Moderne while looking for Sonia Delaunay I found a complete book of her husband, Robert Delaunay on la Tour Eiffel!

He drew ✏️ many Eiffel Tower idea thumbnails 

I set up my granite pavé still life (mine found in my street)

And got painting with 3 Paris icons included.

You can find it on Etsy with other Parisian gifts & Paris Letters

When I got home these Parisians, tourists, whatever were sitting on the curb by the cobblestones enjoying their Berthillon 

                              Bon Dimanche PBers