#scsu2017paris

[alexandraleigh25-blog]

An Ode to Charles’ Mustache

Palais Garnier was by far one of my favorite buildings we have seen thus far. Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite broadway shows that I have ever seen, so engaging with the actual opera house that it was based on was overwhelming. 

The most impressive part of this building is the architecture and the detail that went into every little thing. For example, the ceiling decoration that states the dates of construction and the name of Charles Garnier, the architect. The most exciting detail to see was Phantom’s reserved box, saying, “Loge du Fantôme de L’Opera” plaqued in gold. 

My favorite room was the grand foyer because of the almost sickening overuse of gold. Still, I loved every detail of it, down to the last paintstroke. The painted ceilings were masterpieces of their own, each telling a different story relating to the arts and alluding to Apollo quite often. I think I liked this room the most because of the little anecdote our tour guide told us. This room was originally only for men to wait and chat in during intermission. Then, the former Spanish queen decided that she wanted to see this grand room, becoming the first woman to ever step foot into this hall of golden detail. With her two feet and her faux cul, she paved the way for women to start entering this once extremely selective foyer. Those are the types of history stories I like to hear about. 

Unfortunately, the Phantom never showed himself, but we can always come back... 

[ninaseestheworld]

Art Nouveau Architecture

This week, I visited 2 buildings in the Art Nouveau style. This style was popular in the late 1800s to early 1900s. It can be identified by the curving lines, ornate decoration, natural forms, and asymmetrical facades. In France, the style was a protest against the strict requirements for building facades under Haussmann.

The first building I visited was the Lavirotte building in the 7th Arr. I was most impressed by the decorative aspects of this building, namely the statues and busts that adorned the facade. The building was surrounded by “normal” buildings, making it that much more notable.

Next, I hopped over to the 16th Arr to visit Castel Beranger. After seeing the first building, I must admit to being slightly underwhelmed by this one. I did enjoy the design of the entrance gate. The curving, fluid forms were whimsical and intriguing in contrast with the stone siding. The Art Nouveau-ness was subtle, but definitely present in the door, pillars, and railings.

[zackvblr-blog]

Well this certainly isn’t a Stop & Shop

Even before coming to Paris, I was fascinated by outdoor markets and nontraditional means of acquiring produce and any other consumer goods. Thankfully, the markets in Paris certainly did not disappoint, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses and more. 

The first market I visited was the La Grand épicerie du Bon Marché. While this market was not what I expected, I was extremely impressed by the presentation. Everything looked and smelled fresh, and the variety of colors in the produce was impressive. The appearance of everything was engaging, and the variety of bottled water was unbelievable. 

I was also amused by the “USA” section, which housed a variety of beef jerky, Franks Red Hot, peanut butter, and fluff. 

In contrast to the Bon Marché, Marché Beauveau was more of what I had visualized when I thought of Paris street markets. There were no extravagant displays or thousand dollar bottles of wine, but there was an abundance of fresh produce and locals looking to purchase tonight's dinner. In addition to the immense quantities of fruits and vegetables, there was also fish, cheese, meat, and flowers. This market seemed to have more of a neighborhood feel, and it looked like quite a few people knew each other, and everyone was having a great time. 

[lechatcurieux-blog1]

S/O to my DS: Versailles Edition

Sometimes I walk through malls or through areas with boutiques and I wonder how people could possibly afford any of those outrageous prices… Louis XIV could have back in the day considering he renovated and lived in one of the most luxurious palaces on the planet. Yesterday we went to the magical, awe-inspiring Palace of Versailles. I was surprised that there are over seven hundred rooms. That’s more than my entire high school’s student body. Before our visit I didn’t know that Versailles was the official residence of Louis XIV. Why wouldn’t he want to be directly in the city in which he ruled? But at the same time I do understand that he was concerned about his safety considering how close everything is in Paris. Also as a person who lives in the countryside, I can see why he would want to be surrounded by gardens and space instead of little, probably at the time, very dirty streets.

Even before we entered the palace I could see when I was walking to it that it was a magnificent place. The rooms were so lavish and over-the-top. If there were a version of MTV cribs back then, Louis XIV would surely enter Versailles. The rooms were overwhelming and over the top. I enjoyed the emblem of the sun because just like Louis XIV, I appreciate and enjoy the sun as well. My all time favorite part about Versailles was the gardens. I went on one of the boat rides in the middle of the garden and ended up taking a lot of great pictures. It was also a great exercise for me in taking action shots because the boat rocked a lot. The ducks would come up and say hello to us by the boat, I even saw some swans. They never came near us which is sad because I wanted to get some good pictures of them. After the boat ride, we walked around and viewed some of the gardens. The grass was plush and soft like a pillow; it was fun to lie in. So the inside of the palace had figures of the sun whereas the outside had lots of sun, I enjoy all things sun. From first glance to the desert-storm that happened when we were leaving, I had a wonderful time at Versailles. I got to photograph a lot of it with my DSLR which I’m happy about, a lot of the pictures came out really well!

some lovely photo’s of Versailles, friends, and ducks; featuring my (hopefully) blooming photographic abilities

[scsu2017paris]

It has been two weeks since our arrival back in the United States, and every participant I speak to recalls the experience very fondly. The next series of student posts are the culmination of their month-long exploration of the city of Paris.Students in FRE 206 were asked to develop a photo essay with a topic of their choice. As I read their captions and see their pictures, I am amazed by this creative group of students. Enjoy!

[paris-je-taime7-blog]

Le Château des Cygnes

le 15 juin

Après deux semaines, finalment on a visité le château qui est très célèbre: Versailles. En vois le château, j’ai soufflé par l’immeuble imposant. Contrairement à Vaux-Le-Vicomte, le devant était peint en or donc j’ai su immédiatement comment grand et rich c’était. 

Le jour a commencé avec une visite dedans Versailles. Même si on ne pouvait pas voir toutes les 700 chambres, on a vu assez à comprendre sa majesté et taille. J’aimais beaucoup que les chambres, bien qu’ils étaient décoré dans une façon similaire, chaque chambre a un thème divers. Les premières uns qu’on a marché à travers étaient consacré à les dieux grecs/romains. Tous les plafonds, statues, et tableaus émulé chaque dieu parfaitment et ce qu’ils représenté. Par example, j’ai étudié la sculpure de le dieu Diane et j’ai pensée q’elle a semblé être une femme qui est fort, son arc et flèches étincelle pendant elle attrape son proie. Les chambres de Versailles étaient réligieuse, mais pas à le point que c’étaient accablant parce qu’il y a histoires dans chaque œuvre d’art aussi.

En plus, les jardins somptueux me fasciné parce qu’ils étaient plus interactifs que les jardins de Vaux-le-Vicomte. Un jour n’est pas suffisament de temps à marcher tout la terre de Versailles! Néanmoins, on a pris une petite promenade sur les chemins, on s’est détendu dans l’herbe quelque fois parce que les jardins sont un parfait endroit à éponger le soleil. En bas est une partie d’une grotte cachée, par exemple. 

Aussi, je me demande si le réservoir était utiliser pour les bâteaux comme aujourd’hui, mais je sais que les canards et cygnes avaient toujours l’adorer. Avec d’eau si clair c’était réfléchissant, les bateaux à rames étaient une belle fin à notre visite à le château populaire. Mais faites attention à les cygnes, cependant, parce qu’ils peuvent être féroces, particulièrement les mamans!

[jadnnazy-blog]

Château Versailles: Escaping the Sun-King in the Sunshine

The main gate at Château Versailles.

The Château of Versailles represents the epitome of decadence. Even in today’s modern world, which is filled with glorious architecture and overwhelming displays of wealth (see cities like Dubai and Shanghai), Versailles continues to amaze the thousands of tourists who walk through its gilded gates every day. If we consider the fact that today’s society still marvels over this spectacle, one can only imagine the effect it had on those who lived in its heyday more than 300 years ago.

Versailles is probably best known as the royal dominion of the French monarchy under Louis XIV, le roi du soleil. In fact, like the sun itself, the days at Versailles rose and set around Louis XIV. Beginning in the mid-17th century, Louis XIV and his court containing hundreds of courtiers lodged at the decadent château which boasts more than 700 rooms. Despite the abundance of money, servants, and “the royal treatment” here, life was extremely stressful for just about everyone except the king. Courtiers stumbled hand over foot to please his every whim. Throngs of nobles, eager to gain a smidgen of his favor, waited in line outside the royal bedchamber every morning to catch a glimpse of the lever du roi. Courtiers also watched him go to sleep, eat, play billiards, and even go to the bathroom – all while staying within the strict lines of etiquette. Nobles struggled to keep up with ever-changing trends in manners, daily routine and even fashion. To falter outside these guidelines meant exclusion from the castle, loss of noble title and perhaps even forfeit of possessions. While standing in the accessible rooms of Versailles, gazing at paintings or ornate paneling, it’s necessary to remember just how incredibly taxing it would have been to live here for a single day.

And I thought that MY boss had an ego....enter Louis XIV.

However, Versailles also offered an equally luxurious place to escape from these daily tribulations – its celebrated gardens. These gardens, which stretch miles beyond the bounds of the main building, are equally as ornate and perhaps even more impressive than the chateau itself. A man-made water feature (which is deceptively immense) is surrounded by thousands of decorative topiaries, more than 400 marble statues, two mini-châteaux, and several additional private gardens. Like many of its kind, these gardens served as a place for nobles to stroll and walk during the beautiful spring and summer months whether it be with their families, mistresses, or both. Considering the insurmountable pressure that one would experience as part of the court, these gardens must have become an extremely sought-after refuge for the many courtiers fighting the daily battle for the King’s favor. Inside the walls, every facet of life was subject to the most minute scrutiny. However, a simple stroll in the gardens allowed one to breathe deeply, listen to the sounds of the fountains and birds, and forget the tumult that awaited you upon your return.

One of the many fountains of Versailles in action. 

As I sat on the sweltering RER train en route back to Paris, I couldn’t help but realize how closely my experience at Versailles mirrored the lifestyle present there in the mid to late 17th century. Touring the inside of the château is breathtaking but also quite overwhelming. Once your self-guided tour begins, there is only one route for visitors to take – a single path that leads from room to room to room to room, and is often cornered off with retractable barriers to remind the curious wanderer of the correct path. Any guest who attempts to reverse into a previous room after leaving (perhaps to gaze again at a beautiful painting or take another look at the elegantly staged furniture) is sternly reminded by a château employee that il faut avancer – keep moving forward. There is such an employee in just about every room. After the tour, visitors have the option to stop by café Angelina for some world famous hot chocolate. However, even at this small watering hole, visitors must sit down and finish their drinks or meals before leaving back into the halls of the château. Once finished, guests are funneled down a beautiful stone staircase, through the giftshop, and out the door. By the time I made it to the bottom floor, I had had just about enough of the interior of the castle.

The famous “Hall of Mirrors.”

However, what awaited me outside was spectacular. To me, the freedom that I found in the gardens was an absolute breath of fresh air compared to the stifling, regulated pace of the château’s interior. After a delicious lunch, some friends and I rented a rowboat and spent over an hour paddling around on the sparkling lake. We encountered a family of swans, some ducks, and enjoyed feeling the heat of the sun on our faces. After docking, a short stroll brought us to a completely private knoll where I stretched out to read. Without realizing I had fallen asleep, I awoke shortly thereafter to find myself gazing across a beautiful vista and pond – no stressful château in sight. My friend Zack and I soon rejoined our friends in the jardin du roi where we admired some glorious flower displays and soaked up a bit more sun. Soon the day began to pass and we decided it was high-time to head back to Paris.

Boat time!

As I elbowed my way through the crowds surrounding the chateau exit, I felt the pressure and sensation of frustration rise in me again. Why are more than �� of the rooms here inaccessible? Who made is so that you can’t explore at your own free will? And what’s with all the selfie sticks? Luckily, all I had to do was remember my relaxing day in the gardens to bring myself back town to a reasonable level of calm. Just about 300 years ago, only the noblest of the noble could lay eyes on these grounds. Today, I woke up refreshed and relaxed on the very same lawns, surrounded by good friends and serenity. Take that, authoritarian monarchy!

Château seen from the gardens

[ashruzi-blog]

The Beginning

Our first full day was full of walking but we saw a lot of great things that day. We started off by exploring a very modern part of Paris that was reminiscent of New York City. I am a of a fan of the city so I was not bothered by the modern part and actually thought it was pretty cool but I know some people were not as impressed. Then we headed over to St. Michel and the Notre Dame while getting some fantastic sandwiches and an eclair au chocolat. What I have noticed is that their chocolate is lot richer and I could not finish my eclair. We headed over to the main courtyards of the Louvre and got to see the pyramids and see the grandeur of the “palace’ that showcases all the artwork. After that was finished some of the us went and checked out the Eiffel Tower which is just a very historic landmark for Paris that you can not not see while there. We finished out that day by heading to a nearby cafe for dinner. I ended up splitting a pizza with one of my classmates which was really good but I am fascinated that when you order pizza, you get an entire pizza. I am not sure how you can be expected to eat the entire thing sometimes. 

The next full day a group of us started out by heading over the the Jardins Du Luxembourg. It was beyond gorgeous and I could've stayed there all day and just people watched. Unfortunately we were there for a short period of time because we were heading to the Louvre to check out the big three. At the Louvre we saw the Victory Angel, the Mona Lisa, and the Venus de Milo. I am not really a fan of art but there is something mystical about seeing these famous pieces that you’ve seen in photos in real life. Actually hearing just how old the Victory Angel is and standing so close to the Venus de Milo really makes you think and appreciate a little more than thought out. After our brief visit there, we were desperately hungry and seemed out a cafe for food. We went to a nice cafe called Cafe Joli and I had a fantastic Croque Monsieur. I was in heaven after eating that. We then decided to walk around and we passed by the Grand Palais which is much bigger than I thought. The rain was hindering so we didn't stay out to long and had to navigate the RER and Metro to get back which was a story all in its own but thanks to the easy navigating of the Paris transportation system we were quick to figure it out. I just wish all public transportation was this easy. 

Yesterday, we took the train to a medieval city called Provins. It was incredible to see the history and hear some of the history that took place here. We hear of Joan of Arc but it was crazy to think that she once was here too, a couple hundred years ago. Going down into the underground was fascinating and seeing people’s names carved into the wall from the 1800′s was crazy. Then also to see a room believed to used by the Free Masons which are a super secret society was hard to imagine. There is so much history down there that it’s hard to believe sometimes. Provins is famous for their rose-flavored food items and we couldn’t leave without sampling something. A couple of us got rose and chocolate ice cream and it was delicious. The combination really works. There was a lot of walking involved in Provins mainly going up and down stair it seems. After returning back to Paris, we stopped and checked out French McDonald’s which was an experience and I think I prefer their version to ours. 

There has been so many experiences in these first few days and it’s hard to believe we haven't been here that long yet and we still have so many more to go. It feels like I have been here a week based on all the history and culture I have already taken in and classes haven't even kinda officially started yet. Also the bonding between these group of random strangers who decided to embark on a journey together has been something I won't forget. We flew out of JFK strangers and now we do everything together. Exploring a new city and making new friends has been amazing so far. I can't wait to see what this city has yet to offer. It’s going to be great!

[raquelenparis]

Fooooooood

After being raised on a farm and eating nothing but the best food my family could provide, I am a little bit of a food snob. I crave freshness and purity in my food. That being said, Paris has not disappointed me. Shopping in the little food stores, I have noticed that you see “Produced in France” on many produce labels, meat packages, and more. As a farmer, nothing means more than eating locally produced food, even if it is just from the same country! I respect the emphasis they put on tracking their meat and how it is processed. Eating out has been an adventure. It has been easy to find foods that I want to eat! I am not at all a picky eater… except for mayonnaise. I hate mayonnaise.

I have had a few great experiences so far. I found the love of my life at PAUL, a chain maison de qualité. Meet this beautiful pavot jambon cru, accompanied by a vanilla macaroon. This was one of the first meals we had in France, and it is one of my favorites. The flavors blended well and the meat was great.

While exploring near the Eiffel Tower, a group and I ate at a restaurant in a busy tourist area. That was a mistake. Overall, the group was unhappy with their food. I got something simple, des pates trois fromages, (pasta with three cheeses) and it wasn’t pleasant. Also, we were duped in the tourist area because they charged us a lot for bread and water!

Professor Eilderts treated us to rich hot chocolate at Angelina, a famous luxurious café. I am not a huge fan of sweets, but I had to keep drinking it because it was so thick and I hadn’t had anything like it before. It was fantastic!

On our first Wednesday night out, we were treated to dinner at Le Trumilou. It is a restaurant with good, authentic French cuisine. To start, I had my first piece of escargot!! It was amazing. I am such a fan of seafood, I was sure I wouldn’t hate it, but I was thrilled that I enjoyed it so much. I must have it again. For my main course, I had a tender piece of beef covered in pepper sauce, as well as au gratin potatoes.

After that, I stole some bites of crème brulée from Sophia and Alex. (This one was smiling.)

Overall, the food here has been a fantastic adventure of its own! I am looking forward to trying more.

[teenagedtraveller]

@scsu2017paris @allyinparis 

Ray-Ban Sunglasses

[ninaseestheworld]

Markets

In Paris, grocery shopping is an event. Whether it is an open air market, a small Franprix, or a hugely extravagant supermarket, it is a much different experience than the United States.

Yesterday, my friends and I tried two different types of markets. We started at the Marché Beauveau-Marché d’Aligre, one of the most famous semi-permanent markets in Paris. The building was an industrial pavilion that stretched nearly the length of the block. We entered to an eerily vacant market, surrounded by fish, meats, fruits, veggies, and cheese. It was not at all what I was expecting. I was anticipating the hustle and bustle of people all round, barking at cheese vendors and carefully selecting grapefruit. Instead, the aisles were quiet, and the shopkeepers sat patiently watching my friends and me awkwardly gaze over the baskets of tomatoes and avoid eye contact with the dead fish. Strangely, it left me with a similar feeling to being in a private art gallery; it wasn’t strictly forbidden to speak, but the atmosphere was such that silence felt most appropriate. While it wasn’t what I expected, I was intrigued by the selection and watching out fellow shopper order meat.

Afterwards, we headed over to Grande épicerie du Bon Marché, possibly the most extravagant supermarkets I have ever seen. Aisle after aisle is stocked with the most decadent produce, desserts, jams, condiments, pastas, and more. The quality of the food was palpable simply by looking at it. As the floors ascended, there was furniture, kitchen appliances, dishes, and more inedible but relevant products. I was overwhelmed and impressed, but indulged myself in a macaron from the bakery, which was just as delicious as it looked. I was without a doubt more dazzled by this market than the other.

[ninaseestheworld]

Musee d’Orsay

In the year 1840, the Palais d’Orsay was complete, a new meeting place for the council of state. By 1871 the Paris Commune took power. They emptied the Palais, moving all books, archives, and art to Versailles. That year, on May 23rd, the vacant d’Orsay was vandalized and burned by soldier arsonists in protest of Napoleon III. 

The site was purchased by Compagnie Paris-Orleans. They demolished the burned buildings and built a train station and hotel, the building which still stands today. The building is of a Beaux-Arts style, as evidenced by the flat roof, arched windows and doorways, pilasters, and symmetry. The train station was opened for the 1900 World Expo in Paris. 

In 1939, new trains circulated through Paris which were too long for the platforms in d’Orsay. It was commissioned to become a museum in 1974, and was completed in 1986. Over 2000 works of art were installed over the course of 6 months from the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume.

Today, Musee d’Orsay houses work from the 19th and 20th century. It boasts the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art in the world, showcasing work by Monet, Degas, Manet, Van Gogh, and more.

This week, we visited the Musee d’Orsay. It was a unique museum and was definitely lots of fun. I inspired a scavenger hunt to find 5 specific paintings, which urged everyone to explore the entire building and visit every exhibit. It was definitely a one-of-a-kind museum and experience!

[ninaseestheworld]

Versailles

This week I went to Versailles! I was unsure of what to expect, as I had heard mixed reviews. Many of my friends have deemed Versailles as an overrated, overcrowded tourist trap. I was prepared to feel the same way, but let my mind open, especially to the history throughout the halls.

Versailles was built as the royal palace that we all know in the 17th century by Louis XIV. The chateau was home to the king himself, as well as his family and his entire cabinet. Each day, the rooms would bustle with activity. Residents and visitors alike watched the king’s every move, and were painfully aware that they too were being watched. Outside the chateau stretches the expansive gardens and grounds designed by Andre le Notre. The gardens were and continue to be one of the most magnificent examples of jardin a la francaise in Paris. Each fountain was personally tested by the king himself upon installation.

Around the time of the French Revolution, the king moved out, and the chateau and gardens of Versailles began to atrophy. The war took its toll, and what wasn’t in disrepair was damaged by vandals and battle. Restoration projects have been most successful, with only a select few features of the grounds still damaged. 

With this knowledge, my visit to Versailles was much more meaningful. Through the steadily controlled wave of visitors, I coasted like a member of the king’s royal cabinet, looking for each subtle clue of history, such as the wear on the wood floors, or the cracks in the faded ceilings. The famous Hall of Mirrors was absolutely breathtaking, and as predictable as it may be, it was my favorite part of the interior. Upon our exit, we got lunch as a group, and then a few of us rented a boat to row along the Grand Canal, an experience which made us feel like nobles and reminded me of Morisot’s Summer’s Day.

After our row down the canal, we continued to wander the grounds and visit the Jardin du Roi, where we sat for a while and reflected on the day. My visit to Versailles was surreal and meaningful, and one I won’t soon forget.

[ninaseestheworld]

The view from the Mona Lisa

The Louvre houses thousands of impressive and influential artworks. The halls and rooms are lined wall to wall with paintings and sculptures. Millions of people from around the world flock to the iconic museum to view one 30x21 inch painting hung on its own wall behind glass and body guards: the Mona Lisa.

Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s. It is a half length portrait of Lisa del Giocondo commissioned by Lisa’s husband. Lisa is depicted alone sitting at three-quarters view in front of a natural background. She makes eye contact with the viewer, and sports her famous, ambiguous smile.

The painting has traveled quite a bit, starting in Italy, before da Vinci was invited to live in Paris as King Francois I’s benefactor. Mona Lisa stayed in the Palace of Fontainebleau for a while before moving the Versailles, and finally to the Louvre after the French Revolution. It was stolen and recovered to the Louvre in the early 1900s.

When Mona Lisa was created, she was a controversial image. In the time period, it was unheard of to paint a woman looking out at the viewer, and especially unaccompanied by her husband. Her body language and confidence would be interpreted as that of a prostitute. The painting was groundbreaking and immediately influential. References to her pose and expression are apparent in countless works after her. She has also inspired movies, conspiracy theories, songs, and infinite other expressions.

Fame

The Mona Lisa has been called the world’s most famous painting. She has become a pop culture icon. Her face is plastered on mugs, billboards, shopping bags, and of course the cover of countless Art History 101 textbooks. You can’t escape that iconic gaze.

She has also been called the Kardashian of art. Though she has a colorful history, the majority of people who elbow through the crowd surrounding her rendering are unaware of her past. They only know that this is the Mona Lisa. She is by no means the height of art or the perfect example of technique. She is not in any way the only piece to make an impact. And yet, people swarm her like blood-sucking paparazzi thirsty to snap the cover of Us Weekly. 

During my stay in Paris and visits to the Louvre, I have had the displeasure of witnessing this gawking mob with my own eyes. Even at my first visit, when I was just another tourist among them, I was baffled and almost disgusted by the masses standing shoulder to shoulder, cameras outstretched, drooling over the one thing they must see in one of the greatest museums in the world.

I can only wonder how the Mona Lisa feels. Launching into the spotlight is difficult for anyone, but she didn’t ask for this. Why, of all da Vinci’s breathtaking works, why her? Why this piece? Bulletproof glass, a wooden rail, two bodyguards, and a fabric rope barring the spectators from getting too close. She sees thousands of people a day, and I can only imagine she’s lonely on her private wall. I wonder if she feels guilty about drawing people away from the other pieces in the room, either by sucking the public in like a fly to her web, or repelling visitors completely from the room as a whole to avoid the buzz in the middle.

I wish I could tell the Mona Lisa I’m here for her. I wish I could get up close. Not just to gawk at her fame, but to strip away the souvenirs, the layers of security, and especially her superficial following, and appreciate her for what she truly is: a lovely, influential, well done portrait of a woman who has the inexplicable ability to draw people in and never let them go, but also just another painting.

[ninaseestheworld]

Giverny

If there’s one thing I have learned through taking art history, it is that you can never rule out an artistic movement. As a young artist, I would always say that I did not like impressionism. I thought it was disorganized and rushed, unappealing to the viewer, and I could not understand why people liked it so much. Upon studying it, I began to understand it a little bit better. Impressionism was a groundbreaking movement in art. There was nothing like it when it came to be, and it was one of the most controversial movements in art history. The movement focuses on light, color, and the fleeting moments of everyday life.

This week, I got the opportunity to visit Giverny, the hometown of Claude Monet. Prior to my visit, I was not a fan of Monet’s work. Being the art snob that I know I am, I thought to like Monet was too “mainstream”. The waterlilies didn’t impress me, and his haystacks could put me to sleep.

My, how things have changed

Walking through the home and gardens of Claude Monet was surreal, and nearly moved me to tears. Not only was his house my dream house, I immediately understood why he was so inspired by this property. The pond and gardens feel like a fairytale, and weaving through the paths and bridges felt like instant therapy, enough so to distract me from the throngs of tourists pushing me along.

In my mind, it was just me, Monet, and the lilies. The colors began to decompose and separate like whole milk, and I could see the water like Monet had, bright and whimsical, strung together by confident brushstrokes. I was in awe. I finally got impressionism.

Monet’s home is covered with art. His studio is filled floor to ceiling with original pieces in various states of finish and refinement. The painting above was my favorite, and I bought a print of it on the way out.

The interior of the home is beautiful, with bright yellows, blues, and greens. The natural streamed in through lace curtains, casting perfectly abstract sunbeams on the floor and furniture. I danced around the home, dreaming about what life must have been within these walls, constantly surrounded by inspiration.

I’ve said it before, but I think I really mean it this time: this was the highlight of my trip so far. It was absolutely surreal, and I left with a much higher appreciation for impressionism and art as a whole. I hope to someday achieve the level of inspiration that Monet had access to literally in his own backyard. I feel so fortunate to have seen it myself.

[ninaseestheworld]

First Louvre experience to see the famous 3. Already eager to return! I was most enchanted by the Victory Angel, an authentic statue from the Hellenistic period.