New Matisse Exhibit Explores the Artist’s devotion to his Daughter

Fête des fleurs

One of my favorite exhibit spaces, Le musée d’art moderne de Paris, currently features over 100 works by Henri Matisse devoted to his daughter, Marguerite. The exhibit runs through August 24, 2025, so you might want to stop by if you plan to visit Paris this summer. I have to…

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The Dubious Recovery of the Ever-Hidden Golden Owl

Golden owl focus

There’s an old adage that I’ve found myself using with increasing frequency over the last decade. The more he spoke of his honesty, the faster we counted our spoons. More and more figureheads seem to adhere to the notion that if you say something loud enough and long enough, people…

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Surprise Encounter with a French Paparazzo & Photojournalist, Part II

Or, Just Because You Have Impostor Syndrome Doesn’t Mean You’re Not a Fake Last week, I wrote about an excursion I took with friends to the top of La Grande Arche—a massive office building in the heart of Paris’ modern business district, La Défense. In the spring of 2023, we…

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My Surprise Encounter with a French Paparazzo & Photojournalist

La Grande Arche

Or, Just Because You Have Impostor Syndrome Doesn’t Mean You’re Not a Fake An often overlooked site when visiting Paris is La Grande Arche de La Défense, located in a stylish business district just beyond the city limits. Starting from the city center, the most efficient route to La Défense…

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Poppies of Iraq, Fascinating Memoir to Boost Your French

Je jouais au ballon

Have you ever wondered what you might do if asked to write your autobiography? Where does one even begin? These were questions that confounded color artist Brigitte Findakly when friends and colleagues urged her to share her life story. Born in Iraq in 1959, Findakly immigrated to France with her…

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Musée Montmartre and the Captivating Cats of Théophile Steinlen

Apotheosis of cats

Tucked away in a corner of the 18th arrondissement, just steps from Sacré-Cœur and la Place du Tertre, lies one of Paris’ lesser-known gems, the Musée de Montmartre. This picturesque museum, built in the 17th century, is surrounded by gardens that begin charming visitors before they ever step indoors. Such…

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France’s Favorite Cartoonists Set Fire to the New U.S. Presidency

Retour à la maison blanche, par Thiago

Since President Biden left the White House, the daily news cycle has turned into a foutoir total. Every day, we hear stories about cuts to important government departments, violations of human rights, aggressive actions taken against our allies, declining stock prices, failed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, ongoing conflict…

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