Art
Au Temps de Marcel Proust presents over 200 paintings by artists such as Carolus-Duran, Jean Béraud and Jacques-Emile Blanche, all from the Seligmann collection. These works reflect art and café life in Paris during the Belle Epoque, and include a remarkable portrait gallery of the mondaine French society described by Proust. To Jan 20, Tue-Sun, 10am to 5:40pm, Musée Carnavalet, 23 rue de Sévigné, 3e, M° St-Paul, tel: 01 44 59 58 31, 35F/25F
Raphaël: Grâce et Beauté is the event of the season. This is the occassion to view an amazing collection of portraits assembled from around the world within the grounds of a palace built by Marie de Médicis, whose ancestors were the celebrated painter.’s most instrumental patrons. As Casanova wrote — “No other painter has surpassed Raphaël in the beauty of his figures.” To Jan 27, daily 10am to 7pm, Musée du Luxembourg, 19 rue Vaugirard, 6e, M° St-Sulpice, tel: 01 42 34 25 95, 55F/35F
Kannibals et Vahinés, Imagerie des Mers du Sud opens with a tribute to the explorers Bougainville and La Pérouse, underscoring the south Pacific fantasies they inspired. The show highlights stereotyped images of Polynesia with kitsch examples that span two hundred years of popular culture and include magazine illustrations, Hawaiian shirts, record covers and films. To Feb 18, Wed-Mon, 10am to 5:30pm, Musée des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, 293 av Daumesnil, 12e, M° Porte Dorée, tel: 01 44 74 84 80, 37F/28F
Haniwa, Gardiens d’éternité des Ve et VIe siècles Often placed on promontories, to mark the boundaries of sacred grounds used for rituals, these high standing clay warriors, dancers and animals evoke Japan’s mysterious ancient culture that disappeared with the arrival of Buddhism. To Dec 15, Tue-Sat, noon to 7pm, Maison de la Culture du Japon, 101 bis quai Branly, 15e, M° Bir-Hakeim, tel: 01 44 37 95 00, 30F/20F
La Peinture Comme Crime, ou la part maudite de la modernité confronts a multiplicity of European philosophical visions, illustrating radically changing perceptions of the world around us. The Revolution created conditions that set the stage for the more somber works of French visionary artist Odilon Redon a century later. This astonishing exhibition includes “dripping” compositions by action painter Jackson Pollock and documentation focusing on violent performance art. To Jan 14, Wed-Mon, 9am to 5:45pm, Musée du Louvre, M° Louvre-Palais-Royal, tel: 01 40 20 50 50, 49F/33F
Contemporary art Brazilian artist Tunga’s strange and exuberant environments concocted from sponge, fishnet and billiard balls are presented as a parallel universe to the distinctly sparse, relatively Zen philosophical works of Zurich-born Mira Schendel. To Nov 18, Tue-Sun, noon to 7pm, Jeu de Paume, pl de la Concorde, 1er, M° Concorde, tel: 01 47 03 12 50, 38F/28F
Jean Dubuffet Fun and festive retrospective of 400 works commemorating the centennial of the artist’s birth. To Jan 1, 11am to 9pm, closed Tue, Centre Pompidou, pl Georges Pompidou, 4e, M° Hôtel de Ville, tel : 01 44 78 12 33
August Strinberg (1849-1912) This collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture, in a style anticipating surrealism and 20th century abstract impressionism, highlights the artistic talent of a man best known for his dramatic literary works. To Jan 27, 10am to 6pm (10am to 9:15pm, Thu), closed Mon, Musée d’Orsay, quai Anatole France, 7e, tel : 01 40 49 48 14
Mali Kow Masks, wooden fetishes, photos of village sorcerers and street scenes in Bamako reveal the diverse society of Mali. Nov 7 to Feb 24, Wed-Fri 2-6pm, Sat-Sun 2-7pm, Parc de la Villette, 211 av Jean Jaurès, 19e, M° Porte de Pantin, tel: 01 40 03 75 75, 35F/28F, 15F for children
Photography
Philippe Halsman & Hans Namuth A double retrospective spotlighting two top 20th century portrait photographers — with pictures of Monroe, Pollock, Hepburn and Warhol, among the hundreds of glamour visages on view. To Jan 6, Patrimoine Photographique, Hôtel de Sully, 4e, M° St-Paul, tel: 01 42 74 47 75, entrance 25F
Regards de Femmes shows American photographer Peggy Crawford’s recent portraits of women in Yemen and abstract photos based on decorative elements in Yemeni architecture. The show also includes contemporary tapestries — incorporating feathers, raffia, damask and African cloth — created by French artist Catherine Burgaud. To Dec 28, Mon-Fri, 10am to 3pm, Ambassade de la République du Yémen, 25 rue Georges Bizet, 16e, M° Alma-Marceau, free
Nan Goldin Controversial American photographer’s first European solo exhibition featuring over 320 works, including her much-acclaimed “Ballad of Sexual Dependency.” To Dec 10, 11am to 9pm, closed Tue, Centre Pompidou, pl Georges Pompidou, 4e, M° Hôtel de Ville, tel : 01 44 78 12 33
The Model Wife explores how well-known photographers such as Harry Callahan, Emmet Gown and Lee Friedlander picture the women in their lives. To Nov 10, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 5 rue Fourcy, 4e, M° St-Paul, tel: 01 44 78 75 00
Free entrance to National Museums on the 1st Sunday of each month. www.rmn.fr
Free entrance to the City of Paris Museums on Sunday morning (10am to 1pm) www.paris-France.org
