Hotel de Ville and Jean-Jacques Sempé

The Hotel de Ville de Paris is located right by the LDS Church on rue St. Merri where the students also have some of their classes so we walk by Hotel de Ville all the time.  I have seen this sign for a free exhibit at Hotel de Ville many times since our arrival.  We have been to exhibits at the town hall before and they are always good so today I had some unexpected free time and decided to go.  I wasn't sure what the exhibit was about but I liked the watercolor of the Eiffel Tower in the picture so I knew it would be good. 

"Sempé--A Little of Paris and Elsewhere"

I walked around to the back of the Hotel de Ville and stood in line in the rain with the rest of the Parisians for about 15 minutes until they let a group of us in. 

Entrance between the Lions to Exhibit at Hotel de Ville

Once inside, I recognized Sempé's work.  He was a French artist and illustrator born in 1932.  His biography said his first jobs were as a sales rep for powder toothpaste and then a wine broker until his talent was recognized in the 1950s.

Magazine Cover for Tour de France

Last time we were in Paris, the Hotel de Ville had an exhibit about a children's book series from the 50's and 60's called Le Petit Nicolas.  Andrew came with his French class on a field trip to see the exhibit.  It turns out Sempé is the one who illustrated those books.

Poster for Le Petit Nicolas Exhibit in 2009

I loved the watercolor of the Pont Alexandre in Paris-it is the bridge Kelly runs over towards Les Invalides.  You can recognize it by the fancy lamps.

Sempé's Pont Alexandre

Pont Alexandre and Les Invalides

The exhibit was quite large and varied from books he had illustrated, collections of drawings on different themes, and magazine covers and illustrations.  In 1979, Sempé's first cover of the New Yorker magazine appeared.  The exhibit had a whole wall of magazine covers-at least 20-with his original watercolor mounted above.

New Yorker Magazine Cover

Original Artwork New Yorker Magazine

New Yorker Magazine Cover--Dance Dress Rehearsal

It was a fun way to spend an afternoon out of the rain. On the way out I peeked at the courtyard inside the Hotel de Ville.  I hear it is spectacular inside but we would have to figure out how to get an invitation to see it.

Tomorrow we are off to Chartres Cathedral with the students.  We are looking forward to our tour with Malcolm Miller and we are supposed to actually see some sun tomorrow!