When it is crowded like a madhouse.
Even more foolishly, I did not follow the signs ➡️ I climbed on the escalator with the rest of the sheep 🐑 🐑🐑 and had to backtrack down to the ground floor exhibition.
I usually go on weekdays when it’s less crowded.
Or on Friday nights, when the Louvre is open till 9:45 pm
When most sane people are out dining 🍽️ & dancing 💃
I went to do a little research 🔬 for Elaine Sciolino’s new book, Adventures in The Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum, coming out April 1, 2025. I’ll be doing a drawing ✍️ for her book tour etc.
Anyhoo not a good idea to go on the first Sunday of the month when all Paris museums are free.
*You still need to reserve a time slot online ahead of time (ever since the Olympics).
While I was looking for ideas & inspiration, I dropped into the Figures du Fou/Figures of the Fool exhibit,
What with all the shenanigans we’ve been going through the last few months…it seemed appropriate.
‘Over the course of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the fool came to occupy every available artistic space,
His fascinating, perplexing and subversive figure loomed large in the turmoil of an era not so different from our own’.
A very silly Medieval towel holder.
“Ah…”What fools these mortals be”
Thank you Puck 😂
Perhaps contemplating the Seine is a better idea..?
Holding our collective breath ..... let "fool"ishness be gone .... and on to a more calm tomorrow. With gratitude for your exceptional blog - an admirer from north of the 49th. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks ! 🍁
DeleteThe 49th parallel north as a border between the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (to the north), and the U.S. states …
Amen to that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the booking tip.
ReplyDeleteNoelle
Your pictures and commentary provide a sane moment in the US life at the moment and thank you. Particularly love the evening Seine one!
ReplyDeleteWe’re all trying to keep our sanity 🙏
Delete1-2-3-4 breathe
To a New Yorker, that doesn't look crowded!
ReplyDeleteTake care 😊
I didn’t show the mammoth entry line…worse then Angelina!
DeleteAs another NYer, I thought the same thing!🤣
DeleteThis was great. Lynne
ReplyDeleteGreat entry - the exhibit looks fascinating! Yes, contemplating the Seine - always a good thing to do . . .
ReplyDeleteI would have loved that exhibit - I find jesters interesting.
ReplyDeleteBonjour Carol
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect post for today ! I totally agree with above comment about pictures and commentary providing a sane moment which the USA needs right NOW! I sighed when I came to your photo and commentary about the Seine ! 💗🗼🇫🇷 👍🙏
One of your best, Carol. That's such great advice about going in the evenings with the soft lighting, murmurs, and many near empty galleries. I had always been intimidated by the Louvre on short visits to Paris and only went to special exhibitions. I saved the rest of the museum until we lived in Paris for a year and a half. I took an online course on the great paintings of the Louvre then went through all the painting galleries in chronological order in the evenings. What an experience. I'd need another Paris year and a half for the sculpture! I'm thrilled to hear about Elaine Sciolino's book. Her book on the Seine was so wonderful along with "The Only Street in Paris." I gave myself that rue des Martyrs experience that same year and a half, using her book as my guide. Since I'm not able to travel to Paris right now, your blog brings Paris to me. Merci.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment 🙏 You will LOVE ❤️ Elaine’s new book 📕
DeleteOh my goodness Carol, such a fine focus for today and wonderful comments!! I'm sure your wisdom, focusing on American current foibles and needs IS gonna make a difference!!!!! Carla
ReplyDeleteGosh your blogs are so clever! Always like to see your name pop up in my inbox ❤️ I pre-ordered the book and love that it is being released on April Fool’s Day! How appropriate. 🤣 Congratulations on creating artwork for the tour! Hope those of us who can’t be there in person can purchase a copy? I especially enjoyed the curler coiffure 🃏Lots of Love from 🇨🇦
ReplyDeleteGreat on you!
DeleteI’m reading the galleys now for the drawing ✍️
Elaine is a great story teller 👏
Thank you for the Louvre trip, I would go see the fool exhibition if I was there. That sounds like a very interesting book, I still need to read the one about tie Seine as I enjoyed the one about the Rue des Martyres.
ReplyDelete