Letting Luce

 

MAXIMILIEN LUCE

l'Instinct du Paysage

 

Musée de Montmartre

12 rue Cortot 75018

 

 

Ends September 14, 2025

 

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Maximilien Luce (1858–1941) was a trailblazer of Neo-Impressionism and key figure in anarchist and libertarian communities. Leaving an indelible legacy through his deep artistic and political passions, his paintings of urban and rural scenes as well as the human experience reflect the social and industrial shifts of his time. Although his stunning landscapes take center stage in this exhibition, he also portrays subjects that were unexplored by his fellow Pointillists, such as workers in motion.
 
The humanistic spirit at the core of his work defines its essence, yet landscape remains a central theme that energized his art throughout his career. With a distinctive sensitivity, Luce masterfully portrays light and color. This exhibition, the first major Paris retrospective of Luce since 1983, showcases his artistry and brings his frequently underappreciated work to a wider audience.

Luce lived on rue Cortot from 1887 until 1899, just steps from where this exhibition, the first Paris retrospective since 1983, is now being held. — BPJ

Window Wednesday

 

 

Stepping into the wild on a backstreet in the Sentier district.

 

Design & Nature

4 rue d'Aboukir 75002

 

Table Tuesday

 A gallery along a passageway off Place de la Bastille.

 

Market Monday

 

From organic wines, honey, salts and foie gras tastings to crêpe stands, flower stalls and ready-made traiteur dishes (above) the sprawling Bastille market caters to every taste.

 

Soaring Saturday

 

L'Église Saint-Eustache de Paris, where gothic grandeur meets heavenly heights.

 

Friday faces

Ever-changing graffiti climbs a wall.

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Rue Dénoyez, tucked away in the vibrant Belleville neighborhood of Paris’ 20th arrondissement is often simply dubbed, "The Graffiti Street.” Some years ago it appeared it would see its last stencil, but it held fast: locals wanted to keep their dazzling open-air gallery where urban art reigns supreme, a 156-meter-long alley-like street that no matter what time of year, bursts with color, its walls plastered with ever-changing murals, tags and street art. And sometimes, among the chaos, masterpieces crafted by local and international artists could be spotted. Once home to abandoned shops, today it's a creative hotspot where spray cans (legally) hum as fresh works overwrite the old, ensuring no two visits are the same. Despite past threats from redevelopment - like the 2014 push for social housing and a nursery - it’s held on to its rebellious soul, blending gritty charm with a community feel. Just steps from the Belleville metro, it’s a must-see for art lovers who crave a raw, unpolished slice of Paris’ underground culture. - BPJ

Thoughtful Thursday

A moment of reflection with her best friend on a café terrace.