Modern artists pictured at Sofitel Hotel

 

A sideways look at Salvador Dali in 1965 at Cadaques, Spain by Tony Saulnier, Paris Match

A series of 30 photographs of modern day artists at work, including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Rene Magritte, and Jeff Koons, are on view at the Sofitel Hotel near Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.

The pictures in Revealed come from the periodical, Paris Match, and were selected by Picasso's grandson, Oliver Widmaier Picasso, an audiovisual media producer based in Paris, who was not available for the Washington opening.

In 1959 Kees Van Dongen sketched an unknown starlet, Brigitte Bardot, in Paris/Izis, Paris Match

A smart, 28-page guide which includes anecdotes and quotes from some of the artists accompanies the show. 

Raoul Dufy at his home in Perpignan, France, 1949/Izis, Paris Match

Henri Matisse is seen shortly before he died, in his hotel apartment, bedridden and drawing religious subjects on the wall with a long instrument.  When he was unable to hold paint brushes, he used scissors to cut up paper and pinned the pieces to the wall.  "Scissors can be more evocative than pencils," the guide quotes Matisse.

And Picasso: "To my sadness and perhaps to my joy, my work is shaped by my love affairs."  Picasso did not try to hide any of his lovers from the others, cruelly reading many of their letters to his ladies-in-waiting, the guide says.

Guests at the Sofitel opening of Revealed, Washington, D.C./Photo by Patricia Leslie

Some of the other pictured artists in the exhibition are Pierre Soulages, Marc Chagall, Jean Cocteau, and Francis Bacon. None of the 30 artists are women.

Sofitel's Dominique Colliat helped assemble the presentation, which launched at Sofitel in New York, and is also scheduled for Sofitels in Beverly Hills, Chicago, and Quebec.

Revealed at Sofitel Hotel, Washington, D.C./Photo by Patricia Leslie

What:  Revealed, 30 photographs of modern artists from the collection of Paris Match

When:  Now through October 31, 2014

Where: Sofitel Hotel, 806 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005

Admission: No charge

For more information:  202-730-8800

Metro Station:  McPherson Square 

patricialesli@gmail.com



 

Raise Le Bar a Le Bar

It started off badly with a collision between my elbow and the beer on the tray the waitress was carrying behind me, with beer splattering on my coat, my purse, the chair, the table.

Did anyone say “I am sorry”?

No.

Did the staff clean up or offer to clean up?

No.

Did anyone bring a towel?

Not until I asked.

From there it went to a limeless Corona. When have you ever ordered a Corona which was delivered sans lime?

The only other time it happened to me was at le bar in rural Tennessee.

Anyway, I suppose the ambiance makes up for mishaps at Le Bar at the Sofitel Hotel at the corner of 15th and H.

Go with a fat wallet: a glass of white Zinfandel at Le Bar was $12. The “Mediterranean platter” ($16) came with adequate hummus and pesto, all right, but inadequate pita which means you order more pita which means an additional $3. I know, I know, it’s downtown D.C.; just thought I’d warn you.

No charge for dumped beer.