The Pinacoteca of Paris offers us until March 17, two exhibitions coupled: Hiroshige, The Art of Travel and Van Gogh, Dreams of Japan, highlighting how this Japanese art of printmaking and in particular that of the master Utagawa Hiroshige influenced Van Gogh in his creation.
It is difficult to imagine in 2012, in the era of Internet and unlimited access to the information available in the world, how could be upsetting for the French Impressionists, and Van Gogh in particular, the discovery of a radically new representation proposed by these Japanese prints. A photographic framing with off-center subjects or zoom on the foreground figures, bold colors with blue, red, yellow, importance given to landscape and nature, series representations depending on the season or time of the day, moving figures in postures of daily living (running under the rain, for example), many innovations that inspired Van Gogh when he discovered them during the late nineteenth century in Antwerp and at the Parisian art dealer Bing, a great admirer and promoter of “Japonism” which influenced the Impressionists (Monet, Manet, …) and Art Nouveau in the early twentieth century.
Both exhibitions, see successively Hiroshige first and second Van Gogh, were designed quite remarkable to show us the specifics of prints of a great master on the one hand and the influence they had on a Van Gogh in search of exoticism. Colors, compositions, topics, framing, were transformed by Van Gogh in the south of France, in Saint Rémy de Provence, inspired by this dreamed Japan (see our picture above the Olive groves fromVan Gogh and the image at the bottom of the article Pines in Sea Side by Hiroshige).

A beautiful time of discoveries and colorful journey to live absolutely                         www.pinacotheque.com

Picture : The Castel Beranger, from Hector Guimard 

Art Nouveau was prominent in Europe between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century (until the First World War).
In France, Belgium, Italy and Spain it was characterised by curved lines, sometimes referred to as whiplash. Architects were inspired by nature, particularly plant life
and furniture reflected the designs of the Louis XV style.
In Austria, a more linear style influenced art deco.

Where can you see examples of Art Nouveau in Paris?

Architecture

Despite there being few remaining examples of this type of architecture in Paris (particularly compared to Nancy), there are some magnificent specimens in the capital, mainly by the architects Hector Guimard and Jules Lavirotte.

By Hector Guimard :

• The underground entrances (Monceau, Dauphine, Abbesses, etc.)
• The Castel Béranger
  This is an exceptional investment property (divided into rental flats) from 1898 located at 14 rue Lafontaine in the 16^th arrondissement, underground: Jasmin. It is a fabulous example of a total piece of art, where the Art Nouveau style is used from floor to ceiling, including the door handles. With a bit of luck, you may manage to slip into the entrance to the building.
• The Art Nouveau synagogue, 10 rue Pavée, 4th arrondissement, in the Marais district, underground: Saint Paul

By Jules Lavirotte :

• The building at 23 avenue de Messine, 8th arrondissement, underground: Monceau (cf our Monceau-Ternes Artistic Itinerary   )
• The Ceramic hotel, 34 avenue de Wagram, 17th arrondissement, underground: Ternes  (cf our Monceau-Ternes Artistic Itinerary   )
• The building at 29 avenue Rapp, 7th arrondissement, RER (overground train) Pont de l’Alma

Also worth visiting :

•  The FNAC building (former Magasins Réunis), 26 avenue des Ternes, 17th arrondissement, underground: Ternes, with stained glass windows by Gruber, the famous master glassmaker from Nancy (major French Art Nouveau town)
• The building 134 rue de Courcelles, 17th arrondissement, underground : Ternes, from The architecte Theo Petit and the sculptor Binet
• The former Félix Potin shop, 140 rue de Rennes, 6th arrondissement, underground: Rennes
• The Notre Dame du Travail church, 36 rue Guilleminot, 14th arrondissement, underground: Pernety. Inside there is a steel structure from the Eiffel workshops.

Furniture and objets d’art

• The fine collection at the Orsay Museum in particular : Louis Majorelle furniture and glassware by Daum and Gallé, members of the famous Nancy school