Centre Pompidou, La BD à toutes les Étages

 

Yesterday, after giving up finding a new hairdresser ✂️ (suggestions are welcome)I wandered into the Centre Pompidou museum nearby.

I know most PBers are not wild about the French obsession with marshmallows/guimauve .

Or illustrated comic books/bandes dessinée. Yet many PBers are mad to live 🥐 in Paris! 

Learning to love or even like either will make a difference. 

Many comic books are for adults & super sophisticated, like this spread from a model’s life,Jeune Fille en Dior. After all I’m not asking you to eat blood sausage/boudin noir.

One thing you might consider is reading BDs or bande dessinée as way to teach yourself French as it’s spoken in the street, colloquially.

Anyhoo, there is a big comic book exhibit on every floor of the Pompidou. 

Naturally I wandered into the gift shop first.

So much bright color! Like being at the Sunday marchés.

Fun, useless things that amuse & lift the spirits 

Illustrated plates by Solidad Bravi of the bizarre architecture at the Pompidou.

That’s the adventure of visiting this museum. The tunnel escalators.

And some of the best views of Paris, other than dining 🍽️ at la Tour d’Argent…or top of the Eiffel Tower…or…

l noticed a lot of younger French visitors. Kids love this museum.

A relaxed atmosphere And plenty of seating..not always the case.

A cartoon on Theodore Géricault’s painting,The Raft of the Medusa. Contrasting the  ant 🐜 visitors & the grandiosity of art museums.

Speaking of deep perspectives, the comics of American Winsor McCay are on the 5th floor. Did you ever see Little Nemo?

Another American cartoon artist, George Herriman influenced Charlie Chaplin, Jack Kerouac, Pablo Picasso with the wild antics of Krazy Kat.

New York artist Will Eisner, creator of ‘The Spirit’ crime-fighting superhero, deeply influenced film design & Marvel comics.

I somehow missed the top floor with the French & Belgian comic artists like Hergé/ Tin Tin..I’ll have to go back. 

I’ll quit while I’m ahead… Do head up to the top floor and work your way down for the best experience in any museum. Fun looking down on the ants 🐜 waiting.

Look what Amy did with the Baguette 🥖 Letter!

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. 

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Outside, near the crazy fountain you can munch a tasty fried-egg crêpe.