Friday, 9 September 2011

Le Chat Noir


For no real reason, other than I think it's pretty cool, here's one of the most famous pieces of 19th century advertising art:
Le Chat Noir by Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen. We've had a print of this on our kitchen wall for years and for some reason I always thought it was the work of Toulouse-Lautrec, even though it's obviously in a different style. Oh well, you live and learn.

The poster advertised the famous Chat Noir cabaret/nightclub in Montmartre, which was a hip, swinging and groovy place to hang out back in the day. When Sarah and I last visited Paris, back in 2007, we stayed in Pigalle, only a few streets away from the modern restaurant which still bears the iconic name and black cat image. We were also right next to all the sex shops, burlesque theatres and the Erotic Museum ( ooh la la! ) - which was all very eye-opening...


And after all that bohemian decadence, here's our very own
chat noir, monsieur Hero :-)


at

6 comments:

  1. M. D. Jackson9 September 2011 at 20:29

    I'll have to add that to my list of "must visits" if and when I ever get to Paris.

    I do, however, have my own Chat Noir at home. Three of 'em, actually and each is a big pain in their own way.

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  2. Simon B 10 September 2011 at 00:29

    After posting this I hope the restaurant's still there :-) I haven't been back for a few years...

    Of course, it's an amazing area of Paris anyway, and well worth a visit. You can visit the enormous, Gothic cemetery at Montmartre ( with its legions of stray cats ), walk past the Moulin Rouge, past all the sex shops and brothels, and then climb the hill to the beautiful basilica of Sacre Coeur for an unbeatable view across the city. *Sigh!* Gotta get back there...

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  3. DEZMOND10 September 2011 at 18:01

    Hero looks like his fur is made of velvet :) I bet he has his own beautician and a hairdresser :)

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  4. Simon B 11 September 2011 at 13:02

    He's a handsome boy, all right :-)
    And, yes, he's velvety, slinky and panther-y...

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  5. Dino14 October 2011 at 15:26

    The Monmartre area of Paris is my favourite, lovely cafes and vibe. Pigalle changes the feel completely just a short distance away as you say..and the view from Sacre Cour is the best in Paris...

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  6. Simon B 15 October 2011 at 01:27

    The last time we went to Paris, someone said to me "Ah, Paris, City Of Love... are you taking the kids with you?"
    The answer was in the question, really :-)

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