This is a street scene commonly seen in the Montmartre district in Paris.  Just another day under a bit gray sky, everything seemed to be sitting quietly in the scene except the letters on the building: Tartempion.  I didn't know this word so I looked it up in a dictionary: it means "average Joe" in French.

Speaking of average, I remember this quote by Ethel Merman, an American actress and singer: "As far as dramas are concerned, it's considered passe for playwrights to turn out anything the average person can understand."  ...This makes me think...  If this is true in other forms of art, do today's popular artists produce works that are not easily understandable by the average person?

Not all, but I'd say some do.  There are some artists out there whose 'interesting' works are hugely popular and mighty expensive, but they deliberately aim for a shock-and-awe effect from the audience, it seems.  In my opinion, that's not genuine art.  Oh, well, since I consider myself to be pretty average, no wonder I don't get it.

Montmartre, Paris, France II

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. (on 9 x 12 in. paper)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase:  Please send me an email for more information.

Click to see Montmartre, Paris I painting.