Thanks for resting your eyeballs here for a moment.(They are resting, right?) If you rest them a little longer, you may learn some interesting,(hopefully)entertaining, and, yes, ocassionally BIZARRE things about FRENCH COUNTRY LIFE (more…)
Bicycle Gourmet | January 27th, 2017 | Continued
Early in the 1860s a few young artists began to paint modern life as they saw .They had quietly rejected the idea that art was to tell stories of religious mythology or history. They were not interested in the past.
Contrary to popular belief, Impressionism is not a style but an attitude toward the relationship between life and art that believed it should express what people care about in their daily lives.
The first impressionists were Claude Monet, Aguste Renoir Camille Pissarro and Edgar Dega. This small group of artists dared to throw off the shackles of the past creating art that was ahead of its time.
It all began early in 1873 when Claude Monet invited several of his painter friends to a meeting at his home. Money had decided it was time to find an alternative to the old system where French artists lived at the mercy of the salon jury for success at the salon ,the state-run art exhibition.
At that meeting, the painters planned a group show that would be independent of the salon. To maker their independent exhibition dream a reality,the group desperately needed money.
They began by collecting duess and looked to expand their membership.Next invited to join the group was it’s first female member ,Berthe Morriset. She would later be joined by another Female aritist, the first and only American in the group, Mary Cassatt.
Edouard Manet, the leading avant-garde painter of the day had declined to join. He was determined to make his name at the salon idependently.
Camille pissarro was busy helping to organize the show when he got word that his nine-year-old daughter Manette was ill with a respiratory infection. The family doctor could do little and the infection grew worse. Manette died on April 6 1874.
Pissarro rejoined his friends in making final preparations for the show. They found a space for the exhibition in one of the poshest sections of town on the boulevard de kappa. Monet who happily had a good marketing instinct ,painted the view from the window.This would enable visitors to the exhibitioin to compare Monet’s painting with the actual scene of modern life below.
In contrast to the classic salon presentation, where you saw all the paintings at once,you only saw the impressionist works one at a time.
The exhibition opened on April 15th 1874 and immediately captured the attention of the art critics in fact it seemed that every art critic in Paris had something negative to say about the impressionist’s work.
One example: “what we see in the work of this school is a revolting insult to the taste and intelligence of the public.”
The painting that became the cause celeb of that exhibition was “Morning Sunrise” by Monet and the word Impressionism comes from the title of that painting When a critic said: “These are nothing but impressions.” Meaning weren’t finished works.
So it was that the group of impressionist painters had moved from anonymity to noteriety in a matter of weeks. But not selling enough to even cover their expenses, they were so disappointed that it be two years before they would exhibit again .
End of Part One.
French cycling is as good as it gets. The cream (or more accurately, “crème” ) ‘o the crop. The top of the adventure mountain. And I’m not just saying that because French cycling is what I’m(almost) famous for.
Leader of the Pack
France has three big cycling advantages. First, and most important,it has more beauty and variety than any other European country. Italy, Spain, Southern Germany, Luxembourg-been there/done that/got the tee-shirt. If you have’nt –you need to! Each has something unique and exceptional to offer. But not variety “a la Francaise.”
Variety
French cycling’s second attraction is the abundance of bike trails throughout the country. You’ll notice I said “throughout” as opposed to “all over.” Some regions are more “cycle progressive” than others.
Options
But – Don’t despair! Because all over the country you will find at least two alternatives to the main filled-with-traffic-noise-exhaust fumes route. Country roads. Plain and simple. The highways of the country people. Dotted with –surprise, surprise – Them. Their houses. Their land. Their lifestyles. Now, isn’t that what really what French cycling is all about?
So,what about your French Cycling adventure? Whaddaya need to follow in my tire tracks?
Gonna spill all da beans in part two!
THROW ME A BONE HERE PEOPLE!
What are ya thinkin’?
is different than the televised Tour de France.
In fact, The Bicycle Gourmet’s Tour de France is better. Not just for DA BG,but for you as well.
Here’s why:
1. Bicycle Gourmet’s Tour de France is longer. WWWay longer. Starting in late Spring and continuing until Early Autumn. (or whenever the weather stops playing nice.)
2. The Bicycle Gourmet’s Tour de France is sssssslower. (Yes, DA BG is the poster boy for the “slow bike movement.”) Slower means I actually see/enjoy the countryside, memorable moments with the locals, that my heads down mile-a-minute lycra clad cousins can’t.
3. The Bicycle Gourmet’s Tour de France is all about discovery and adventure. As my motto says : “Tasting the land and the people as well as the food and wine.” The speed crazed Tour de France is all about applause, medals and after shave/shaving foam/razor endorsements.
Remember I said at the start that The Bicycle Gourmet’s Tour de France is better than the classic one? for you also?
That’s because when DA BG glides down those sun dappled country roads – he records the beauty of it all -for you. In videos like this:
The Bicycle Gourmet invites you to join him on his adventures in France. Sign up for his FREE newsletter and get a copy of the BG's special report - Secret Treasures of France.
