“Stalls out front display long forgotten novels. In the 1960′s it had an avowed sense of mission, sponsoring readings and offering beds upstairs to aspiring writers, young and old.
Today, Amazon.com and the Barnes and Noble superstores stand as a colossus against the culture of old bookshops. Old bookshops are shrines to literary ghosts, where books are objects of respect and affection and where the bookshops are esthetic objects in themselves; cramped, chaotic, charming, eccentric, the expression of a personality and a place of discovery.”
- caption under the photo seen below, Shakespeare in Paris, by George Carrano
More on Shakespeare and Company…and fotofoto gallery where I first saw Carrano’s work…
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August 17, 2010 at 9:33 am
ashleylharnett
A gorgeous photo, and I agree entirely with the sentiment.
August 17, 2010 at 10:03 am
lazarusdodge
I saw an original hanging on a gallery wall that was several feet across and as many high. It was as if you were standing in front of the storefront itself on a summer night. If I ever had a better reason to go to Paris…
And the caption goes to my sentiments as well. There is no substitute for a book in hand…and certainly not a “device” …
Humbug.
- Jeff
September 14, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Atti
I have seen the bookstore many times and this picture and words capture the look and feel of books and Paris itself.
September 15, 2010 at 9:25 am
lazarusdodge
One day maybe we’ll meet out front…
- J.
October 3, 2010 at 8:10 am
Holly Gordon
This has been a favorite image of mine for quite a while. The patina of time and place, the reverence for books shouts with a whisper… I went to Paris the first time just to see Shakespeare and Company!
As a member of fotofoto Gallery I invited George Carrano to be my exhibiting guest artist. I’m so glad he selected this image. Perhaps one day we’ll all meet at fotofoto Gallery – 372 New York Avenue, Huntington, NY
October 3, 2010 at 3:56 pm
lazarusdodge
Hi Holly:
Let’s meet in Paris first…then we can always follow up at fotofoto…
I added a link to the gallery – an omission that you reminded me I should correct. I’ve seen so much creative work there that’s inspired me both as an aspiring writer and newbie photographer.
Thanks for coming and leaving your poetical words with us!
- Jeff
March 30, 2012 at 9:18 am
holly gordon
A brilliant image makes an impression and when that impression endures, it becomes a classic…such is the case with Shakespeare in Paris by artist/photographer/visionary, George Carrano.
As an artist, myself, sharing works with another artist, I first saw this image nearly two decades ago. It immediately struck my visual soul…as well as planted seeds of necessity to travel to Paris to see and photograph Shakespeare face to face.
Every time I see this bookstore landmark, legend, icon, in the film Midnight in Paris, most recently, for instance, it is Carrano’s image that immediately pops into my mind’s eye.
While shots of Shakespeare in Paris are taken with great frequency, Carrano’s work stands above them all, thanks to his personal, poignant and sensitive eye. It thrills me to see this image continue to impress and gather interest from others.
March 30, 2012 at 10:54 am
lazarusdodge
There are images, phrases, and words that have always stuck in my memory. Odd that although I may have forgotten where they originated, the images and phrases always remained behind.
Thanks, Holly – always look forward to reading your comments and seeing your work!
- Jeff
March 30, 2012 at 12:54 pm
holly gordon
Thanks, Jeff! I have been down in Wilmington, NC to escape winter and have been shooting my brains out. This gentleman has a fabulous garden and his 5000 tulips (no exaggeration) beckoned to me. The glorious blaze of color and light an atmospheric conditions provide a continuous source of creativity….and I don’t need to cross the ocean to Monet’s garden in Giverny for the kaleidoscope of color…although I do wish to return….and to Paris to see Shakespeare as well. I will be back in NY soon and am on deck for solo exhibit in October…called Holly Meets Hokusai and created following first visit to Giverny. Looking forward to seeing you again too!!!!
March 31, 2012 at 7:53 am
lazarusdodge
Sounds marvelous! Wife and I generally head up to Albany every year for the tulip festival in May. And I read they’re bringing back a tulip festival to Babylon this year in late April – don’t know if it’ll match the drama you’ve seen in Wilmington, but worth checking into.
Looking forward to your new show!
- J.
March 31, 2012 at 9:19 am
holly gordon
…a tulip festival in Babylon?!!! I will be sure to go. Thanks for the tip.
btw, do you know what flower is fun to kiss?
ans: tulips (two lips)