More of de Gaulle! They installed a huge portrait of him on the Hotel de Ville building and it's really impressive. What's even more impressive is that this portrait is actually a mosaic. It made of 1038 other portraits, the ons of the Compagnons de la Libération, that is people who played a role in the liberation of France during WWII (this includes members of the resistance, but not only). Click here to see a close up of the portrait and take a look at some of the mini portraits.
That is tres cool!
ReplyDeleteWow! I remember one of Chuck's quotes..."One does not arrest Voltaire." I always liked that one. I love auto/biographies, but I have not delved into his. Maybe it's time.
ReplyDeleteMy but that's impressive!
ReplyDeleteJFK and CDG have airports named after them. Politicians are either vilified (deservedly) or honored. Some people even take them for their names.......
ReplyDeleteWow! I prefer de Gaulle mosaic to Warhol's lemon colored Marilyn Monroe silk screen. Sorry Andy, I'm no Auctioneer. I'm FRENCH.
ReplyDeleteI am involved in mosaic studies at this time. I love the precise nature of the finished product. And I can totally appreciate the detail necessary to carry the piece to it's fruition. Amazing. xoxo from The Prairie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching way to commemorate those who played a vital role in the liberation of France. It is fitting that this tribute is impressive as their actions were even more so. How can we ever begin to thank the remaining survivors of WWII for their sacrifice?
ReplyDeleteAgree that it's fitting that this portrait is made up of the portraits of all those other (unsung) heros. So, Eric, do you swing by the Hotel de Ville every day to troll for photo ops? :~}
ReplyDeleteI really love the pboto, Eric. There's something about the light or the colors (when I focus on the face) that makes me feel the building is the illustration rather than the giant face! I also like the contrasting people (real and depicted)from different points in the past and present.
ReplyDeleteMost patriotic art is rather hackneyed or jingoistic. This is really good. It's a great artistic concept for any portrait. The link of the Compagnons and DeGaulle is great. Like liberty itself, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
ReplyDeleteOn the other side of the coin, a city council member of the city I work for was on the local news for proposing to make English the official language of the city. He wants to avoid costs of translating documents to other languages: which has never happened and is not required by any law.
I like the mosaic. We have a stained glass window of John the Baptist baptising Jesus, above the baptistry in our church, and they used the photos from the last photo directory to make a photo from that picture. I think mosaics are really cool!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great photo mosaic!
ReplyDeleteIts use of pictures of the people involved reminds me of the photo mosaic we have in Downey honoring the crew of the Columbia space shuttle. http://downeyish.blogspot.com/2010/05/columbia-memorial-space-center.html
Excellent post, Eric. The close up and concept of this are inspiring.
ReplyDeletewow !!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is incredible
Incroyable! It is truly a work of art. Inspiring and beautiful at the same time.
ReplyDeleteOn a total side note, curious though...how do any of you define art?
Actually, it's not a 'mosaic'. It's pictures superimposed over the main picture (de Gaulle) or vice versa.
ReplyDeleteExcellent photo!! Merci! I remember growing up after the war we had portraits of Franklin Roosevelt, General MacArthur and General DeGaulle in our home. He was always referred to as "General" DeGaulle and respected as a Hero. Then 1968 arrived and the whole world changed.
ReplyDeleteI find it appalling that young people don't know who he was or who General Eisenhower was and the importance of what they did for us. The museum at the Invalides is fascinating and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Paris. I am glad to see that this special anniversary is being noted in France!!
@Alexa "So, Eric, do you swing by the Hotel de Ville every day to troll for photo ops? :~}" Of course Alexa, of course!
ReplyDeleteFascinating piece! Reminds me of the work of Chuck Close.
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