THE JOKER

En marge de la société

 At the margins of society

One more mosaic example in Paris of the French street artist Invader's pixelated style inspired

by the late 1970's Japanese video game, Space Invaders. 

It may be well-executed as far as this genre goes, but coming across this image of The Joker 

on a shady side-street has a creepy effect.

I don't know who is keeping count of these, but there are reports that there are 

more than one thousand glued to walls in the capital city alone.  

For fans it has become a game to seek them out and "flash them" with their phones on dedicated

applications. In fact, according to an article in Le Figaro culture section, the artist himself developed 

such an app to "spot and flash" his works.

©2026 P. B. Lecron

A FRENCH DRIVE-THROUGH

 This is the town hall, or l'Hôtel de ville, of Givry, a small town in southern Burgundy.

The town hall was built in the 18th century around the original porte de la ville or city 

gate in the form of an arc de triomphe. The building is classified as one of the most 

beautiful hôtels de ville in France.

©2026 P. B. Lecron

BOREDOM BREAKER

 This stable toy caught my eye at the local equestrian center. It's called a boredom breaker,

or as expressed in French un jouet pour lutter contre l'ennui--a toy to fight against boredom.

©2026 P. B. Lecron

SHOW TIME IN NANTES

It's show time for the magnolia asiatique with its large, fragrant flowers in the form of tulips.

The port city of Nantes is the French capital of magnolias, having more than 700 varieties in the

national collection. The first specimen imported to France arrived from across the Atlantic 

three hundred years ago, transplanted from Louisiana in 1711.

©2026 P. B. Lecron

FRENCH SLIPPERS

L'esprit Charentaise

Made in Charente by Rondinaud, a business founded a long time ago!

This may seem confusing at first--but in France there is a difference between the pantoufle 

or ordinary house slipper, and the charentaise which is a felt pantoufle with a fluffy lining. 

Usually the iconic charentaise with its characteristic shape and design, is made of a felt plaid, 

but artisanal creativity has led to more luxuriant textures and motifs, like that of the one above. 

L'esprit charentaise is a very French concept that conveys a sense of well-being, warmth, 

and of slowing down--in short a cosy, take-it-easy lifestyle. La charentaise has its origins in 

the south-west of France in the 17th century when scraps of felt were used to line wooden 

shoes or sabots to make them more comfortable.

Expression

Il y a belle lurette: a long time ago, ages ago, way back when

 

©2026 P. B. Lecron