~Les Bouquinistes~

The bouquinistes are the green booths that cling to the walls along the Seine on both sides of the Ile de la Cite. These prime spots are much coveted, many are passed down from generation to generation.  There is no set schedule for when they will be open.  The license that allows them to operate only specifies that they must be open so many hours a week.

Every booth is different.  Some sell only old books.  Some are full of souvenirs.  All are interesting and provide a perfect way to browse while walking along the river.

I like looking through some of the old (not so old) maps.

 The Cathedral of Notre Dame is in the background.  On weekends, the quais are quite crowded.

Prints and postcards are plentiful.  There is something for everyone.

Original art can be found too.

What is really interesting is watching them open up in the morning and pack up at closing (which is anytime they want).

This view is typical~not all bouquinistes open at the same time.

 Near the Pont Neuf

 These old magazine covers were very interesting and pricey.

These look like illustrations torn from a book on fashion and sold singly.

These are reproductions of old Belle Epoque posters.

Since these booksellers are located right in the heart of Paris, there's no way that they can be missed.

~Art Nouveau in the 7th Arr.~

Until our last trip in 2011, I didn't have much knowledge of Art Nouveau.  Then, I saw a beautiful Alfonse Mucha calendar with 12 of his famous posters.  This was the beginning of my understanding of the style~Art Nouveau.  Art Nouveau is a philosophy and style of architecture, art and decorative arts which was popluar from 1890-1910. It is inspired by natural forms, structures and curved lines  One of its most distinctive characteristics are the 'whiplash' curves.  These whiplash motifs, formed by dynamic flowing lines are found throughout the architecture, painting, sculpture and other decorative forms of Art Nouveau design.

Mucha's poster Gismonda, which was an advertisement for the play featuring Sarah Bernhardt in 1895, popularized the new artistic style.  In Paris, the gallery Maison de l'Art Nouveau managed by Seigreid Bing showcased modern art objects.  The fame of his gallery increased at the 1900 Exposition Universelle which presented an overview of this modern style.  Soon this new modern art form became known as Art Nouveau.

More of Mucha's posters can be seen here.

29 Avenue Rapp

We came upon this building, completely by accident, walking near the Eiffel Tower. It caught our eye from a block away.  The architect of this building and several others in the area was Jules Lavirotte.

This masterpiece won Lavirotte first place in the prestigious Parisian Facade competiton of 1901.  The use of glazed tiles embedded in the stone and bricks was the first of its kind in Europe.

The Art Nouveau style incorporates forms from nature; plants, flowers, insects etc.  The door pull on this main entrance is in the form of a lizard.

Lavirotte signed his buildings.

Here's another link that describes some of Lavirotte's designs.

Rue Sedillot

This is another Lavirotte building.  It is quite fanciful with a Medieval inspired tower over the main entrance.(seen in the photograph below)

 This building is now the Liceo Italiano Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian high school.

The building has asymmetrical features. The windows are unevenly spaced and of different sizes.

Art Nouveau architecture made use of many of the technological innovations of the 19th century, especially the use of exposed iron and large pieces of glass (note the Guimard Metro entrances below).  These window grates are great examples of the 'whiplash' curves used in the design.

This photo shows the windows of the building next to the Liceo Italiano.  There were several buildings on this street with Art Nouveau features.

Square Rapp

Just a few steps from the 29 Avenue Rapp building is Square Rapp. Here you will see another Lavirotte building at No. 3 .

The first thing you notice when turning into the Square is the back wall. It is covered with a 5 or 6 story tall trellis with a 3D architectural design.  It's magnificient.  The iron gate was designed by Lavirotte as well.

The main entrance and balconies feature stone carvings and cast iron details.  Each of the balconies has a different Lavirotte design.  You'll notice the turret towards the back.

The facade, the balconies, the iron work and the beautiful carved doors are breathtaking.

Looking back out of the Square through the iron gate that encloses the square, a full view of the Eiffel Tower.

By the start of World War I the elaborate stylised nature of Art Nouveau fell out of favor because it became too expensive to produce.  It was eventually replaced by the 20th century 'modern' styles which were more streamlined, linear, and cheaper. One of these plainer industrial styles became known as Art Deco.

Excellent examples of Art Nouveau architecture can be found in many cities in Europe including Brussels, Belgium; Riga,Latvia, Aviero, Portugal and Barcelona, Spain. (There are many more.)

Other Art Nouveau artists include Gustav Klimt; jewellry designer and glassmaker, Rene Lalique; glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany and architect Antoni Gaudi.

Other Art Nouveau creations

Hector Guimard was an architect and contemporary of Lavirotte and more well known.  He designed the Paris Metro entrances.  There are two of the original structures left in the city.  This one at Place Abesses in Montmartre.

and this one at Porte Dauphine near the Bois de Boulogne.  Notice that both incorporate the large glass panels in the design.

(photo is from the internet)

Today Art Nouveau is considered a 'total' style including architecture, interior design, jewellry, furniture, textiles and visual arts.

So now you know~if it's decorative and curvy, it's probably Art Nouveau.

~Themes: Colors~

I've found that having a particular item to search out actually makes you look even closer at everything.  On a previous trip, I decided on the spur of the moment that I was going to look for 'green things' and try to take a green photo everyday.  Green, it turned out was not the easiest color to find but once we started looking for it~it seemed to be everywhere.

So as part of my trip planning, I made a list of possible themes.  Colors was at the top of the list. For this trip I was going to do blue.  While walking the first couple days, we noticed a definite trend in the shop windows. Orange~obviously THE color to be wearing.  So orange and blue were the 'theme colors' for Paris 5.

The first orange photo was easy.  This little ball was one of the lamps in our apartment.  It made the perfect backdrop for our May Day Lily of the Valley.

 I have to admit, I think these are just about the ugliest shoes I saw; we passed this shop almost twice a day.

Maybe this is the same shop~they do change their windows often.

I thought these lace shorts were quite unique.  The first blue item that I found.

(I was shopping last week and found that lace shorts are "in".)

Little girls get to wear orange too.

I coveted this scarf but couldn't justify 79 euros.  I was really tempted though.

I don't like to take photos of people on the street but this orange coat screamed for a photo.

This little tourist tram is new~at least for us.  We've seen a white one in Montmartre but not in the city by the Ile de la Cite.  I didn't see any advertisements so have no idea where it goes.

ORANGE shops are everywhere....they sell products for mobile phones. A Parisian RadioShack.

Not something I would wear, but it did get my attention.

Outside seating at a small bar.

I found some blue at the Mineralogy Museum~ Lapis lazuli.

One of the clocks on the wall at the Architecture Museum; 

each unique clock designated a different time zone.

Here you are ~a whole outfit.

The butterfly dress was pretty.  This was an upscale shop on Rue Victor Hugo that we passed

 on the way to the Arc de Triomphe.

Some shades of orange were more appealing than others.  I prefer the cool oranges.

I didn't dare run over and take a photo of this woman.  

She was walking rather fast, so it's probably not in focus.

Shops with kitchen gadgets are really fun.  Sometimes we were at a loss at identifying the item.  I guess this is a juicer for your fresh squeezed orange presse in a goblet.

The item that looks like a boat is actually a serving dish for dip.  The spreading knife sits in the lid.  

The blue juicer is displayed upside-down

Pick your shade.

I asked Woody to keep his eye open for something orange in the men's shops.

These are those little remote controlled puppies that run around and yelp.  This was near the Eiffel Tower.

Little puppies begging the tourists to take them home.

I love this bike!  It was parked at the Louvre.

Orange canaries in the pet shop~blue backdrop.

More accessories for your orange wardrobe.

It took some time before I found a shop that wasn't showing orange.  I was beginning to give up on blue.

Indian tourists at the Trocadero

Finally found some men's clothes~maybe for that weekend in Cannes.

(With those yellow loafers in the photo above)

I was so surprised to find an orange scooter.

Robes/cover-ups in a tourist shop on the Rue de Rivoli.

An elegant little boutique in the Marais~oriental style clothing.

Ballet flats (all French girls wear these).

 I really preferred the blue ones but then I'd have to buy a whole outfit to match.

 This photo does not do this window justice.  The store is very large by Paris standards.  Those huge blue net pom-poms took over the whole window with only 2 mannequins displaying the lingerie.  Tam-Tam specializes in loungewear, bathing suits and lingerie.

I wish I could have gotten a photo without all the reflections.  These are Denver Bronco colors.  I hit the jackpot with orange and blue in one window. (They are complimentary colors)

That's it for the colors theme....more themed posts to come.