Sculpture of a young girl defiantly faces L'Académie française, the all-male bastion of power created in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu to protect the French language.
Not until 1980 was a woman elected as a member for the first time.
The Face equated with Piero Fornasetti that launched 16,000 designs is in excellent company with many more of his mind-boggling pieces. Musée des Arts Décoratifs til June 14.
The shadow of a tree makes a dramatic splash on The Love Wall, a romantic meeting spot on a leafy square where "I love you" is written in over 300 different languages.
It's Pâques weekend and boulanger-pâtissier Gontran Cherrier displays a lineup of show-stopping kougelhopfs, each cradling its own pot of chocolate-caramel cream.
A tiny "smart car" sits by itself in front of the Pompidou Center on an early morning.
Within hours this area will spring to life with street performers, sidewalk artists and vendors, and no cars will be permitted.