· 

Impressionism, Paris.

I made this photograph in 1975 when I was 20 years old. I had just arrived in Paris, and Paris was still in many ways post war, and anyone older than 30 would have lived through Occupied France, and would have certainly known what hard times were.

Not only did my world open up with so much history and culture in front of my eyes-but a whole new world of art, particularly impressionism, was touching my senses and soul.

I spent every afternoon of 1975 photographing in the popular working class bistrots of Le Marais which was then still a very working class neighborhood long before its' present gentrification.

One of my favorite impressionists was always Gustave Caillebotte. His painting, "Les Raboteurs de parquet", (the floor scrapers) is a marvelous representation of urban working class.

This photograph above, made at Café Lacour, an establishment run by Madame Lacour, where the best and least expensive glass of red wine in Le Marais could be found-making it a favorite of men then called "clochards", is my hommage to impressionism.

I myself had worked as manual laborer building concrete highways in Indiana for a year in order to save enough money to move to France, and the world I found in the old cafés of Paris felt in many ways very familiar to me.

This is a world that has disappeared and I am grateful to remember it through a photograph.

With love,

© Photograph by Peter Turnley, Café Lacour, Paris, 1975.

All reactions:

7Françoise Dhulesia, Sem Xtz and 5 others

6

1

Share

Most relevant



Daniele Chany

Superbe, je partage mon amie Sushama , bisous 

• 2y
• Like
• Reply
• See translation
• Hide

Active

Sushama Karnik

Daniele Chany Please do.

• 2y
• Like
• Reply

Françoise Dhulesia

What a wonderful story-telling image! I like the humanity captured in this gentleman's portrait; his pensive look and body language are strong.

Fortunately, there are still quite a few small cafés with a soul in Paris where one can sit, observe the world, meet friends, talk to people in a very friendly way.

• 2y
• Like
• Reply
• Hide

Active

Sushama Karnik

Françoise Dhulesia I like such cafes.

• 2y
• Like
• Reply

Françoise Dhulesia

Sushama Karnik I have shot a series of photographs that I captured in Parisian cafés exclusively. Will share. I find every opportunity to photograph their atmospheres and spirit.

• 2y
• Like
• Reply
• Hide
• Edited

Active

Sushama Karnik

Françoise Dhulesia Please do

• 2y
• Like
• Reply