In Montmartre, at the beginning of the 20th century, there was a "painter" called Francisque Poulbot who became famous for his drawings of children. He is still so famous, that we currently use the word "Un Poulbot" when talking about a little Parisian kid. In Montmartre, you find post cards, place mats, canvasses... of his drawings everywhere. That is precisely where I took this photo (actually on the Place des Abesses) which shows the back of a ticket booth of a merry-go-round. It's not a real Poulbot scene, though, as, when Poulbot was alive (between 1879 and 1946) there were surely no skateboards!!
Brings to mind Victor Hugo's gamin Gavroche in his Les Miserables.
ReplyDeleteI checked out a little about Francisque Poulbot and laughed at the bottom sunset painter here.
Now that is a neat piece of French history that I would probably never have learned about anywhere else. Cool!
ReplyDeletePerhaps someone is trying to carrying his tradition.
ReplyDeleteKnowing that it is part of a merry-go-round definitely gives it an added kitchy charm.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting tidbit of history Eric. It sure beats the velvet paintings of Elvis you can find being sold on the side of the road in the U.S. (do they still do that?).
ReplyDeleteIt might still be an original, because if you look carefully, you will see that while the child on the left is carrying home fresh baguettes, the one on the right is actually conducting a scientific experiment into the legendary strength of a day-old baguette. It is unlikely that a modern day child would be so interested in science.
ReplyDeleteI believe cet oeuvre est de Michel Thomas qui suit la tradition de Poulbot pour représenter les "titis" de Paris. Ses cartes postales (from 1960, and on) font partie de "The Big Eye Movement". Tous les gosses ont des gros yeux bleus. Very appealing, even "cute"! You'll find him (and also the work of Poulbot) on the web.
ReplyDeleteGood photo, Eric. Good choice!
very nice painting, even though im not parisian the kids face looks familiar to me :)
ReplyDeleteso this particular kid face is a trademark of Poulbot
Eric,
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree a bit, with all respect. That is the first ugly "art" I've seen from Paris. The kids look like Hummels, or bad Disney art.
I see you put "painter" in quotes, so I suspect you might agree.
Honestly, when I was in Paris I saw graffetti that looked better. C'est dommage.
David
Velvet paintings Michael? Euugh my goodness aren't they just disgusting?
ReplyDeleteEric these are cute illustrations.
see you put "painter" in quotes...
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing. But then, I'm revolted by the BIG-eyed face thing (anime, Precious Moments, etc.).
Kitschy pictures of "cute" children oozing treacle will always have a market, as will velvet "paintings". As to that, I heard a story recently. A friend is from Pittsburg. He said that many Italian families have black velvet versions of Da Vinci's "Last Supper" hanging in their living rooms. Large ones, over the sofa. It's an inexpensive shrine, in effect. Not my aesthetic choice (I go for Impressionists and DeLempka), but who am I to judge? You all know I'm completely without opinions.
ReplyDeleteI know there is a French Movie where the main characters[young]live in some small Paris apartment that is decorated with several of these posters on the walls..can't remember the name of the film right now.
ReplyDeleteDior trivia from yesterday..did you know he was pretty much credited with saving the French fashion industry after WWII?? His "New Look" reestablished Paris as the fashion capital of the world. His funeral in 1957 at Saint-Honoré d'Eylau in the 16eme was attended by a veritable "Who's Who" of the Art and Social world[the Duchess of Windsor, Jean Cocteau, Pamela Churchill Harriman, Pierre Cardin"who fainted"]and there were so many flowers sent to the House of Dior that the city of Paris allowed them to be displayed in the Place de l'Etoile. The Arc de Triomphe was afloat in a sea of blossom. The man himself would have been suitably impressed, given that flowers were almost the equal of fashion and food in his pantheon of passions.
Ahhhhhhhhhh,yes, the Poulbots! Good to see a couple have survived the new millenium! ;)
ReplyDeleteYou know, they used to be all over the Latin Quarter when I was growing up, but now they're few and far between, I think (of course I never thought of going to look for them in Montmartre). I used to like these a lot when I was a teenager, I guess because they had that "cute and romantic" look, but I'm not sure these have aged all that well (well, OK, the skateboard is a nice touch but that kid is definitely missing an iPod with white earbuds hanging loose, at the very least, and the other one shouldn't be carrying a baquette but texting someone (SMS in French?) ;-).
Interesting story and a very nice photo.
ReplyDeleteVery nice photos in general.
Congratulations!!!
Hah, I know exactly where this is, because my most popular photo tour starts here!
ReplyDeleteAnd on the other side of this booth you find the Mona Lisa being painted right next to the Sacré Coeur in the same style, which is rather surprising for a century old church!
As an authentic Montmartre child myself, Eric, I'll just tell you one thing : "Quelle Horrrrrrreur !"
ReplyDeleteI just can't help thinking this is the top of the the top of the ugliest Montmartrian bad taste !
;o)
Merci for the art history lesson, Eric!
ReplyDeleteI love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Les poulbots :) J'en ai pleins dans ma aison :)
ReplyDeleteHi! I am going to Paris with 2 children ages 9 and 10, and I was wondering if you had any suggestions for educational children's activities in and around Paris. I know this doesn't exactly have to do with your post, but it seems that you would be the one to know. Si vous avez un petit moment, ecrivez-moi @ alexandrabeach@gmail.com. Merci!
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