David Gentleman’s Paris, published in 1991 was the author’s first book of art in which he ventured beyond the shores of Britain. Following on from the same format as his books on Britain and London this is a special look at Paris through the eyes of one of the great artists Britain has produced in the past fifty or more years.
Gentleman has been visiting Paris since the age of seventeen and in his early formative years as a student with very little money he would wander the streets making pen-and-ink drawings and really getting a feel for the city via cheap rooms off the Boulevard St Germain.
As with all of the books in this wonderful series there are plenty of examples of Gentleman ‘people-watching’, he even has a page of six men laid on the floor in varying poses all the worse for drink as an example of the polar opposite of those who stay in the many luxurious hotels the city has to offer.
The street scenes are beautifully drawn, he has tips on where to walk in Montmartre to avoid the tourist traps, visiting the places ‘where real painters could get on with their job in peace’
Paris still holds onto its title for being a romantic place to be, how much of the city qualifies for that these days is a point of contention but this was the early nineties and Gentleman captured it simply but perfectly.
The book runs to 190 pages and it is completely full of illustrations and paintings. He serves up an invaluable guide to the city, its history, people and culture. His affection for the place is clear but as with any of his travelogues he does not let that cloud his objective observations. A must book for art and travel lovers alike.
See also:
David Gentleman’s In the Country
Categories: David Gentleman
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