Max Beckmann, Un Peintre Dans L’Histoire A major retrospective paying tribute to one of Germany’s most important painters. After acquiring a solid reputation via the “Expressionist” movement, Beckmann (1884-1951) went on to develop a melancholic yet colorful palette. The artist’s themes range from sad clowns to war and exile. Sept 9 to Jan 1,2003, daily except Tue, 11am to 9pm, Pompidou Center, pl Georges Pompidou, 4e, M° Rambuteau, tel: 01 44 78 12 33

Arnold Newman Work by one of America’s most distinguished portrait photographers, including pictures of Picasso, Kennedy and Stravinsky. To Sept 22, daily except Mon, 10am to 6:30pm, Patrimoine Photographique, 62 rue St-Antoine, 4e, M° St-Paul, tel: 01 42 74 47 75

Matisse-Picasso With over 100 paintings and sculptures this exhibition explores the “fraternité artistique” linking Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.. Sept 22 to Jan 1, daily except Tue, 10am to 7:15pm, Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, av Winston-Churchill, 8e, M° Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau, tel: 01 44 13 17 17

Manet... Velasquez... A thematic overview examining the influence of 19th century Spanish artists on the work of Manet and other French painters. Sept 18 to Jan 1, 2003, daily except Mon, 10am to 6pm, Musée D’Orsay, 1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 7e, M° Solferino, tel: 01 40 49 48 14

Robert Rauschenberg —“Les Dix Dernières Années” Early pieces, plus brand-new work. This stimulating show spotlights “Synapsis Shuffle,” a 52-piece series — recently acquired by the Whitney Museum — exhibited as an artistic “game of cards.” And, probability... To Oct 14, daily except Tue, 11am to 5pm, Musée Maillol, 59-61 rue de Grenelle, 7e, M° Rue du Bac, tel: 01 56 03 12 25

Bals et cabarets au temps de Bruant et de Lautrec Montmartre nightlife (Le Lapin Agile, le Moulin Rouge, le Chat Noir...), as depicted by Bruant and Lautrec. To Dec 29, daily except Mon, 11am to 6pm, Musée de Montmartre, 12 rue Cortot, 18e, M° Lamarck Caulaincourt, tel: 01 46 06 61 11

La magie de Magritte An exhibiiton probing the visual symbols of one of world’s most important Surrealists To Oct. 30, daily 10am to 6pm, Sat 2-6pm, Musée en Herbe, Jardin d'Acclimatation, Bois de Boulogne, 17e, M° Sablons, tel: 01 40 67 97 66

Martine Franck — Photographe Poetic pictures on various themes from haunting landscapes of Ireland to portraits of artists, such as Balthus and David Hockney. To Sept. 29, daily except Mon, 10am to 6pm, Musée de la Vie Romantique, Hôtel Scheffer-Renan, 16 rue Chaptal, 4e, M° Blanche, Pigalle or St-Georges, tel: 01 48 74 95 38

Les Portes Ouvertes 2002 des Ateliers de Ménilmontant An invitation to embark on an adventurous tour of 130 artists’ studios. Oct. 4-7, 2-9pm, 40-42 rue de Panoyaux, 20e, M° Ménilmontant or Père Lachaise, infoline: 01 46 36 47 17

Sur la terre comme au ciel — Jardins d'Occident à la fin du Moyen Age A glimpse at the significance and symbolism of medieval gardens, through the prism of engravings, paintings and ceramics of the period. To Sept 16, daily except Tue, 9:15-5:45pm, Musée National du Moyen Age, 6 pl Paul Painlevé, 5e, M° Cluny-la-Sorbonne, tel: 01 53 73 78 16

Georges Mathieu A retrospective spotlighting this exuberant Pompidou era artist’s “signature” abstraction.To Oct. 6, Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume,1 pl de la Concorde, 1e, M° Concorde, tel: 01 47 03 12 50

Compiled by Fabiola Dieudonné