Between the Musée d’Orsay and Saint-Germain des Prés

The brightness of over a hundred paintings by Paul Signac and from his collection makes up for the lack of daylight at this time of year. Signac was as much a painter as a collector and followed the productions of the artists of the era very closely. He took part in many debates about ideas, fervently promoted neo-impressionism, and published theories about divisionism (more commonly known as pointillism). In 1905 his From Eugène Delacroix to Neo-Impressionism manifesto marked the beginning of modernity and the Fauvism movement. He decided to become a painter at the age of 16 without any formal training and his apprenticeship consisted of simply studying and learning from the paintings of his peers until the day his talent as an artist was recognised.

His perceptive eyesight was as useful to him as an artist as well as a collector; he started collecting at the age of 22 with a first painting by Cézanne in 1883 and a second by Seurat the following year which he constantly complimented. He acquired over 80 paintings and drawings from the artist, including the most reputed one, The Circus, the only painting by Seurat ever shown at Le Louvre. Signac surrounded himself with paintings by Maximilien Luce and Edmond Cross (look at the poetry of Air du Soir) as well as Pissaro, who also used pointillism like Seurat and Signac himself. He also bought works from his Nabis friends, such as Vallotton, Vuillard and Bonnard. He invited them to the house he bought in Saint-Tropez, a small fishing village which became immensely popular with artists thanks to Signac. Matisse went there to paint his famous Luxe, calme et volupté, which Signac immediately snapped up. This is, in short, a superb exhibition of some of Signac's best works, but above all, it shows how involved he was in the recognition of the Modern Art movements of his day.

Don't miss the opportunity to see the Enfin le cinéma exhibition retracing the first steps of film making with works by Etienne-Jules Marey, the Lumière brothers, Méliès, Loïe Fuller and more, also on show at the museum close to the Hôtel d’Orsay.

Then, once out on Boulevard Saint-Germain, we suggest stopping off at Ralph’s, a stone's throw from the Hôtel des Saints Pères. Fashion designer Ralph Lauren's private residence successfully combines an American ambiance with the Rive Gauche atmosphere. Rooms with high ceilings with exposed beams, stone fireplaces, hunting paintings and cosy, old leather seats, arranged around a beautiful interior courtyard with trees and large white parasols. It is currently the best American style restaurant in Paris, serving crab cakes and shrimp cocktail, cheesecake and carrot cake, with steak topping the bill of course: a ranch steak with Ralph sauce or a Ralph’s burger cooked to perfection.

Pleasure and relaxation guaranteed.

Signac Collectioneur
Until the 13th of February, 2022
Orsay Museum


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OUR HOTELS CLOSE TO THE ORSAY MUSEUM: