Artist's Square at Sacre Coeur
The artist's square at Sacre Coeur thrives with talent and creative spirit. As I walked through the square, something different caught my eye at every step. Artists smiled at me and asked if I wanted to be painted (like the girl pictured to the left), but unlike tacky New York caricatures, these portraits were works of detail, precision, and beauty. The silhouettes, pictured above in the center, are something that I've never seen anywhere else. Similar to the portraits, the silhouettes are a sophisticated version of caricatures - a touch of Paris classiness. Artists would also let people watch them paint, like the artist pictured above to the right, and it was intriguing to observe them work; as they added and tweaked their paintings here and there, I studied the artists, hoping that somehow I could find a way into their artistic minds and understand how they produced such skilled artwork.
The artist's square is unique because it is a product of the allure of Paris as a sophisticated and beautiful city. New York caricaturists and artists are cast to the side of the street, and pedestrians barely take a glance as they walk by. However, the artist's square in Paris is an entirely different story. This "business" has taken some of the most talented artists in Paris and gathered them in one place, which elevates artists from the streets to a must-see attraction. Many of these artists can sell a tiny painting for as much as 40 euros, and the portraitists can charge up to 20 euros and still get a substantial amount of customers. The romantic image of Paris as a place of beauty and art also contributes to the success of the businesses in the artist's square; everyone wants to take home a portrait or painting that captures the idealized Paris experience.
This business could potentially work in the U.S. if the artists were truly talented. Moreover, it would have to be located in an upscale or tourist-heavy place, so people would be more willing to buy expensive artwork. The problem is, most people do not perceive the U.S. inthe romanticized way that most people perceive France, so that will not be a beneficial factor to the artist's square's success. Maybe if places like New York, L.A., or Washington, D.C. took some tricks from the artists next to the Sacre Coeur, an artist's square could become a must-see attraction in the U.S.
The artist's square is unique because it is a product of the allure of Paris as a sophisticated and beautiful city. New York caricaturists and artists are cast to the side of the street, and pedestrians barely take a glance as they walk by. However, the artist's square in Paris is an entirely different story. This "business" has taken some of the most talented artists in Paris and gathered them in one place, which elevates artists from the streets to a must-see attraction. Many of these artists can sell a tiny painting for as much as 40 euros, and the portraitists can charge up to 20 euros and still get a substantial amount of customers. The romantic image of Paris as a place of beauty and art also contributes to the success of the businesses in the artist's square; everyone wants to take home a portrait or painting that captures the idealized Paris experience.
This business could potentially work in the U.S. if the artists were truly talented. Moreover, it would have to be located in an upscale or tourist-heavy place, so people would be more willing to buy expensive artwork. The problem is, most people do not perceive the U.S. inthe romanticized way that most people perceive France, so that will not be a beneficial factor to the artist's square's success. Maybe if places like New York, L.A., or Washington, D.C. took some tricks from the artists next to the Sacre Coeur, an artist's square could become a must-see attraction in the U.S.