Paris kids
Monday, January 07, 2008 Posted by Eric
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!!
January 7, 2008 2:37:00 AM GMT+01:00
Brings to mind Victor Hugo's gamin Gavroche in his Les Miserables.
I checked out a little about Francisque Poulbot and laughed at the bottom sunset painter here.
January 7, 2008 2:50:00 AM GMT+01:00
Now that is a neat piece of French history that I would probably never have learned about anywhere else. Cool!
January 7, 2008 5:02:00 AM GMT+01:00
Perhaps someone is trying to carrying his tradition.
January 7, 2008 5:09:00 AM GMT+01:00
Knowing that it is part of a merry-go-round definitely gives it an added kitchy charm.
January 7, 2008 6:39:00 AM GMT+01:00
An 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?).
January 7, 2008 8:03:00 AM GMT+01:00
It 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.
January 7, 2008 9:02:00 AM GMT+01:00
I 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.
Good photo, Eric. Good choice!
January 7, 2008 9:46:00 AM GMT+01:00
very nice painting, even though im not parisian the kids face looks familiar to me :)
so this particular kid face is a trademark of Poulbot
January 7, 2008 4:35:00 PM GMT+01:00
Eric,
I 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
January 7, 2008 4:54:00 PM GMT+01:00
Velvet paintings Michael? Euugh my goodness aren't they just disgusting?
Eric these are cute illustrations.
January 7, 2008 5:13:00 PM GMT+01:00
see you put "painter" in quotes...
I thought the same thing. But then, I'm revolted by the BIG-eyed face thing (anime, Precious Moments, etc.).
January 7, 2008 6:05:00 PM GMT+01:00
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.
January 7, 2008 10:59:00 PM GMT+01:00
I 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.
Dior 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.
January 7, 2008 11:23:00 PM GMT+01:00
Ahhhhhhhhhh,yes, the Poulbots! Good to see a couple have survived the new millenium! ;)
You 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?) ;-).
January 8, 2008 12:28:00 AM GMT+01:00
Interesting story and a very nice photo.
Very nice photos in general.
Congratulations!!!
January 8, 2008 6:08:00 AM GMT+01:00
Hah, I know exactly where this is, because my most popular photo tour starts here!
And 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!
January 8, 2008 3:48:00 PM GMT+01:00
As an authentic Montmartre child myself, Eric, I'll just tell you one thing : "Quelle Horrrrrrreur !"
I just can't help thinking this is the top of the the top of the ugliest Montmartrian bad taste !
;o)
January 8, 2008 10:36:00 PM GMT+01:00
Merci for the art history lesson, Eric!
January 11, 2008 7:46:00 PM GMT+01:00
I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Les poulbots :) J'en ai pleins dans ma aison :)
February 26, 2008 8:24:00 PM GMT+01:00
Hi! 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!
October 7, 2009 12:35:00 PM GMT+02:00
酒店經紀人,
菲梵酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
禮服酒店上班,
酒店小姐兼職,
便服酒店經紀,
酒店打工經紀,
制服酒店工作,
專業酒店經紀,
合法酒店經紀,
酒店暑假打工,
酒店寒假打工,
酒店經紀人,
菲梵酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
禮服酒店上班,
酒店經紀人,
菲梵酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
禮服酒店上班,
酒店小姐兼職,
便服酒店工作,
酒店打工經紀,
制服酒店經紀,
專業酒店經紀,
合法酒店經紀,
酒店暑假打工,
酒店寒假打工,
酒店經紀人,
菲梵酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
禮服酒店上班,
酒店小姐兼職,
便服酒店工作,
酒店打工經紀,
制服酒店經紀,
酒店經紀,
菲
梵,