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Paris's Americans

Ways to emphasize their influence on both the French and U.S. cultures
  • Monet's American diciples, inseparable from a visit to Giverny
Monet, in top hat, leads his step-daughter to the Giverny church where she will marry a member of the U.S. artists' colony. The work is by another member of that colony.

 

After Monet made his home in this village west of Paris (in 1883), American painters settled there to be near him. Their colony greatly contributed to France's influence on American art in the early 20th century.

 

The Museum of Impressionisms, which is a few steps from Monet's home, is a result of their presence. It is an excellent place to explore our cultures' synergy.

 

 

  • They were part of the American community that grew up in Paris in the course of the 19th century

 

 

The American Cathedral is now a French national monument.

 

It was important (and wealthy) enough to build two néo-Gothic churches, one on each bank of the Seine. Among the worshippers: Edith Wharton, James Singer Sargent, Henry James... 

 

"Expats" have written, or appeared in, U.S.literature since that time. We visit sites where famous stories are set, read excerpts and tell about Americans who infuenced the U.S. culture... while living in Paris.

 

 
    • In Hemingway's footsteps (walking tour)

     

    Almost all important American writers of the 1920's hung out on the Left Bank. We point out places where they lived or that affected them, or where they crossed paths with European artists of their time. Such as:

     

    • The site of the English-language bookstore that dared publish Ulysses.

     

    • The Luxembourg gardens, through which Hemingway would pass on his way to Gertrude Stein's salon.

     

    • A painting by Delacroix that the young man would ponder. It portrays a struggle, which can be interpreted as an artist's effort to master creative energy.

     

    • Cafés, which were a fundamental part of artists' lives. Among them, the café where Hemingway wrote "The Sun Also Rises". A 10-minute walk from the others, it was a place where he could usually be alone.

     

    In one of these we read excerpts from Hemingway's recollections of his youth in Paris and describe why artists from everywhere flocked to the city. They still do.

     

     

     

     

    The celebrated 1920's bookstore, with owner Sylvia Beach and a young woman who resembles Zelda Fitzgerald.

        This tour connects with Montparnasse in the 'Roaring '20's".  Hemingway was one of a multitude of talented people who made their way to the same place at the same time...


         

        • Salons whose hostesses were American, talk (for groups)

         

         

        Picasso, "Gertrude Stein", 1906

         

        Sylvia Beach, Gertrude Stein, Nancy Cunard, Romaine Brooks, Isadora Duncan... were among the Americans who chose Paris for its intellectual and sexual freedom. 

         

         
        0ur lecturer

         

        Pierre-Emmanuel Plouvost d'Agostini would have been in his element in their salons. He explains their contribution to the Parisian culture of their time.

             A visit to the Museum of Franco-American Cooperation at Blérencourt (in Champagne, a little more than an hour's drive from Paris), can tie in. 

             


            • Josephine Baker, the first black star – talk (for groups)

             

             

            Recent exhibit, famous poster

             

            The girl from the St. Louis ghetto who, by dancing nude except for a belt from which bananas hung, became a 1920's music-hall star. As well, she launched Les Folies Bergère, suntans and the song, "Two loves have I". Later she participated in the Resistance. She remains beloved in France.
            Inaugurating the Place Josephine Baker (2004)

             

            The chanteuse who inaugurated the Place named after Baker is guest of the African-American who encouraged that decision, who tells us about Josephine, her neighbors Wright and Baldwin and African-American intellectuals who live in Paris now. 

             

             

            • Americans in Paris now

             

            • For a description of this varied population:

             

            http://www.understandfrance.org/Paris/AmericanCommunity.html

             

            • For Anglo-American evenings

             

            ° Mondays, 7 p.m. (no charge)

            http://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/index.php?categories=107:1

             

             

             

            ° Sundays & Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

            20€, refreshments

            www.parissoirees.com

             

             

             

            • Concerts at the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau
            Events are worthy of the site

             

            General Pershing, Commander of American forces in France during World War 1, wished to improve U.S. military music. So after the war he joined French composer and conductor Francis Casadesus in founding the American Conservatory of Fontainebleau. Its purpose: to give promising American musicians outstanding training in France. 

             

            Anecdote: When Aaron Copland, age 20, received a Conservatory scholarship, he accepted it for the free trip to France. One lesson with Nadia Boulanger made him feel that he was a beginner. Later she invited him to collaborate. Overwhelmed, he accepted. She said, "Good. Now let's get on with the lesson." - Told by a former student

             

            Students come in July and during that month, the Conservatory, whose Director is Philippe Entremont, presents superb concerts in the château. We are happy to give you of the dates. (Concert, 20€. You will probably also wish to visit the château, so remember the entry fee.)

             

             

             

            • Costs: Please CLICK.

             

            ° Talks: Fees depend on the speaker, the context and the number of participants. Please ask us

                 

                ° Giverny, remember the entry fees to Monet's estate and to the Musée of Impressionisms, and lunch. We recommend the restaurant that replaces the American artists' cantine, where American artists had their meals... often in exchange for paintings, whose copies line its walls. 

                 

                ° Fontainebleau, remember the château entry fee and 20€ par concert ticket.

                 

                 

                Credits: Giverny painting / "The Wedding March", by Robinson (1892), courtesy Terra Foundation for the Arts; church painting / "The American cathedral on Christmas Day 1900", by Jean Béraud; photos Josephine Baker / Claude Abron; photo Conservatory / kindly supplied by Joe Kerr

                 

                 

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