A weekend in Paris – not a romantic getaway, but a trip to myself. A few things were on the list – walk my old walks, say hi to Montmartre, see art, be with the people I loved. I got more than I bargained for, as walking was mandatory due to the strikes. I can never be in Paris without making the news apparently.
The walk to Montmartre was a very long one and although the sun tried its best, it was rather too cold to be outside. I sketched and painted as much as I could but my fingers at some point couldn’t take it any more.
I sat down on a strategic spot – near Montmartre but close enough to a warm café. Next to me, the long stairs, and an athletic group running up and down, up and down.
Montmartre to me is this: the historic building is a backdrop to the life around it. The trees win. Here, they are rooted, they grow, they are together, just like the Parisians that have to live with the bustling and vibrant life that the city offers. And through this life shines the iconic identity that the world knows.
But the soul of the place has always been in the daily life of those runners, inhabitants, trees.
The Trees at Montmartre is available, 21 x 29,5 cm, watercolour painting, € 199. Contact me for more info.
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