Saturday, January 03, 2009

Snow dress


I posted a lot of Aristide Maillol sculptures on the blog, but this morning, when I saw it had snowed during the night, I could not help but stopping by the Louvre gardens and take a photo. Snow is rare in Paris, that's why we love it when it happens; it gives an extra flavor to the city (even when it's just a thin layer, like in this photo). Soon it will be Monday and life is going to go back to normal... Have a nice, resting weekend.

45 comments:

  1. From this angle she looks like she is taking a walk through the park and trying to escape the snow.

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  2. Ooh, cali, you slipped in by seconds. Congrats.

    The snow is eerie, sort of like ash after a volcano. Interesting highlights.

    You want some snow? We got snow. You can have all you want, as long as you pay the shipping cost.

    And, I'm wondering if any PDPeople might want to meet up in the LA area Feb 13-16. Haven't booked the trip yet, but getting close. I need some incentive...

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  3. I politely waited and then decided to go for it.

    Contact Carrie, Jeff. She left a message a few posts back.

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  4. She looks spooky, ghost-like. Great capture, Eric. We had a very light dusting of frost and have it right now, but no snow. This was the perfect subject to display your snow.

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  5. Wouaaaaah Eric ! C'est superbe !
    La Floride est tres agréable mais la, ça donne vraiment envie de rentrer !

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  6. No snow, no frost just dreary rain here. This reminds me of the film "Blow Up" a photographer's photograph. I'd love to have taken this.

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  7. I want snow :( Send some my way and my way would be South Carolina more precisely!!

    Nonetheless, very beautiful photo.It looks like she's stuck in a moment of time.Kind of eerie feeling. I like how the light frosting makes it look just I don't know.A certian something.

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  8. A wonderful, mysterious shot Eric. She surely looks ghostly...

    Snow in Paris and I'm not there! We had our first, truly, non-rain day here in Seattle in the 2 weeks I've been here and it was beautiful. Looking forward to going "home" though, but back to work is another story.

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  9. We can hardly say if it's a B&W picture or if it's so white because of the snow! This is lovely, the woman has an ethereal aspect...

    I missed the snow in Paris, that's so bad! Well, I had "some" in Oslo, by minus 13 I think it's normal. ;)

    Happy belated new year to you all!

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  10. I think this picture will be in the Top 10 Eric's Best Photos next year.

    Beautiful!

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  11. I'm off to the beach for the next 4 days, won't be able to check PDP.

    I miss it already!

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  12. It looks as though you've captured the very moment she came out of a sleepwalk or maybe she's still in it! Beautiful capture!

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  13. "off to the beach" Monica?! Arrrggg, you're killing me!
    We already miss you too, you know. :)

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  14. Guille stole my word: ETHEREAL!
    I initially thought it was not taken in Paris! Superb shot.

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  15. Ah, a light dusting of snow in Paris! What fun. I do like this photo Eric - it shows a side of Paris - the grey part - that so many don't associate with it. The statue is a gorgeous example of young womanhood is it not?

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  16. Wonderful photo!! I first thought it was the tomb of Dalida at Cimetière de Montmartre..or something like that. I love the dusting of snow, yet I am not a fan of severe winters. I suffered through too many New England winters as a child.

    Bonne Annee to all the PDP famille! I have been out of the "loop" for the past few days, but now back to the grind. 2009 is going to be a GREAT year..!! J'espere!!

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  17. It is quite amusing to read comments from people in all hemispheres of the world. Monica is going to the beach, snow dusts Paris, Guille experiences bitter cold in Norway (which is similar to what I'm living through), and Michael is experiencing unusual Seattle cold.

    Ain't this Paris Daily Photo thing just the cat's meow? All you PDPeople are great.

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  18. Hey everyone out there in the SoCalFanPod! I'll be happy to help coordinate some kind of PDP get together if Jeff can make it out to Lalaland.

    I'm not sure if I have everyone's emails, so anyone who's interested let me know at Carrie.12345@yahoo.com.

    Please put something in the header that lets me know your from PDP - otherwise I'll assume you're from the British Lottery, (or some other scam) which I seem to keep winning on a weekly basis! I'll put out a second call once Jeff knows if he's coming or not. Woohoo!

    Lovely photo Eric! I just heard an interview with a woman who posed for him for many years - I got the impression that it was for most of her life and that she is now elderly. I don't know if this is she or not, but I like to think so. : ) She said he was very shy and she was forced to suggest taking her clothes off so he could do nudes of her!!

    Speaking of which, I just saw Last Tango in Paris for the first time!! Not quite like seeing An American in Paris for the first time, but memorable none-the-less. I can only imagine how shocking it was when it came out in 1973.

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  19. Very well done, a great black and white. The statue appears to be taking a stroll.

    Love it,

    Gary.

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  20. Off to the beach, Monica? That's quite ruined my morning. ;) Have a good time.

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  21. Is there something more beautiful ?...
    Words are weak.

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  22. I recently heard a story on NPR about the woman, now in her nineties, who was the model for this and many other Maillol sculptures. I'm not sure how to post the link - but if you go to NPR and search Maillol I am certain it will come up. She is amazing! Perhaps you can meet her Eric, she lives above the Maillol musee in Paris.

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  23. "Going to the beach"! Argh! Enough to make one jealous Monica and wishing you kept up your blog! Off to the airport in a few hours where I'm praying the person at the counter is kind enough to let me check 3 bags and the customs people in Paris are still working off their hangovers and miss the guy with 3 overloaded suitcases, 2 coats and a backpack trying to sneak out with lots of American goodies to bring home!

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  24. Ahhh Michael I wonder what American goodies you miss in France? What were the must-haves you stuffed into your case; do tell.

    Anonyme you have a way with words yourself. Couldn't have put it better.

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  25. Lynn, it's all quite basic and not very exciting... A trip to the outlet mall was more the thrill of the deal with the dollar-euro exchange rate and getting some "basics". For example, cotton dress shirts, sheets, jeans are all much better priced here than back in Paris. You know I love the blue cheese dressing from The Cheesecake Factory, and of course, lots of little gifts from my friends here in Seattle. Other than that, lots of useless things were stuffed into the suitcase that "I just had to have"...along with a few Christmas and birthday presents!

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  26. Hey Carrie and Jeff, why not use the CDP Forum to coordinate your adventure in L.A. ? Then we can all follow along ;-)

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  27. To Kirgirl : Thank you a lot!!! I've just read the lovely interview of Dina Vierny. I didn't know she was so young (15) and Maillol was already 73 when they started to work together.

    I love this extract: "And a new, defining phase of Vierny's life began. [...]
    'Un Homme Tres, Tres Pure,' And An Adventurous Model
    Maillol worshipped the female naked body in his art. But Vierny says he was "a very, very pure man" — sensitive, an artist who treated his models with respect.
    He was also shy. He never asked her to undress. "So I posed fully clothed," Vierny recalls. [...]
    "Since he never asked, I figured he would never have the courage," she says.
    But in the 1930s, Vierny and her high-school friends were part of a back-to-nature group.
    "We got naked easily," she says. "Parce que le nude est plus pure que tout — the nude is more pure than anything."
    She was never embarrassed or uncomfortable. And "I thought it was silly that he didn't ask me."
    So she offered...".

    I'd like her to see your photo of her bronze, Eric. I am sure she would be moved a lot.

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  28. lol Michael I KNEW there'd be blue cheese dressing. I don't blame you for taking advantage of the exchange rate! You could send some things home by post too, if they are light? I've done that before now.

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  29. Thanks for the support, Carrie. By the way, the anonymous comment about PDPeople in different hemispheres was me, I neglected to add my name.

    Back to the Maillol. The photo is aptly named: there Snow Dress, only a sheer chemise. (Did someone already make that pun?)

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  30. Beautiful sculpture made more so by the dusting of snow. I imagine it makes the whole city look even more magical.

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  31. Oh Michael!! "Blue Cheese Dressing" from the Cheesecake Factory??? LOL!!! Too funny!! You know they have a "support group" for that addiction don't you?? ;-)

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  32. Oooh mon Dieu...Eric hasn't posted yet! Methinks he may be dallying in the park with the young lady in the snow-white dress!

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  33. Eric, I imagine you gasped at the sight of this and knew instantly it would be your photo. I'm sure we all gasped or sighed as it opened on our desktops.

    Michael, Lynn's suggestion is a good one but I recommend you don't mail the salad dressing.

    Jeff, Carrie, let's use the forum! Good idea, Michael! Perhaps southern California folks who lurk might like to join the party and would feel more comfortable talking there.

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  34. Fabulous shot Eric . Bravo. Snow in Paris , manifique!!!
    V

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  35. Very cool photo. I wasn't sure what it was until I read the text!

    I remember snow in Paris a few times, but of course, it doesn't stay white too long.

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  36. I have to admit, the first time I looked, I said to myself, "What snow?", but it is there and captured quite beautifully. Congratulations, Eric!

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  37. Michael - you mentioned birthday presents. Whose birthday? Just curious. Hope that you had/have a good trip home and the customs men were kind.

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  38. Would you know if there'd be chance of snowfall still by end of january? :)

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  39. Boy oh boy does that look cold! (I know I'm a bit late posting comments, but I do have a good excuse...no internet! =D)

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  40. Stunning! One of my favorite artist and you captured it perfectly.

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