Strolling in Paris
( for Sarah Potter of Sarah Potter Writes after our conversation about Isadora)
In 2013 My daughter and I spent a hot afternoon in the cool shade of the tree lined avenues of Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. We found the graves of Sarah Bernhardt, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf and more, but my favourite ever since I was a young ballet student, was
Isadora Duncan. She was a free spirited, unconventional romantic, who was very dramatic and somewhat self indulgent. In spite of having no real formal training, she danced her way to fame across Europe in the early 1900’s, soon becoming the darling of society and the art world. She was loved for her expressive freedom by the women of the day. In Paris she met the Singer dynasty heir. They became lovers and with his financial backing she opened several dance schools in Europe. She gave birth to two children, the older daughter was fathered by a famous set designer and the younger son was Paris Singer’s. Tragically both children drowned when the car in which they were riding with their nanny lost control and plunged into the Seine. Isadora wrote poignantly of her grief in her memoirs. Her own country of America reviled and condemned her when she married a Russian poet and embraced the communist revolution. She declared that all artists were revolutionaries. She later moved to Nice on the Riviera.
Her last words were, “adieu mes amis, je vais a la gloire!” (Farewell my friends, I am off to glory). She got into a Bugatti sports car with a handsome young Italian and moments later her signature trailing, long scarf caught in the car wheel and broke her neck. She was fifty years old. The poet Gertrude Stein, who lived in Paris, on hearing of her death sardonically remarked, “affectations can be dangerous.”
Her grave is still visited, though perhaps not as much as Jim Morrison’s. On Morrison’s you might find empty bottles and a joint laid out as tribute on his tomb stone. In front of Isadora’s plaque lie roses and dance slippers with little love notes tucked inside. She is still an inspiration and the epitome of interpretive dance style to this day.
I have other photos I will publish of the wonderful city of light. We have a friend living in Paris and our hearts are with France and the Parisians especially at this time.
I was a free man in Paris- joni mitchell
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
just beautiful…:-)
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thank you so much!!
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Cybele Dear ! I have to thank you for your wonderful mono photos and the subject that revolves around them.I also love going to cemeteries that famous people are buried where my imagination sets the clock back and I revive their work and their lives.Isadora’s life and her tragic end really excites me and each time I read something about her and her free-style dancing I am deeply touched …
Superb work my friend from every POV 🙂
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Isadora’s life also has intrigued me. She was quite a personality and talent!! Yes, her grave stone touched me too!! So glad you like her too!!
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Beautiful photos and lots of inspiration for a ton of stories! Well done, Cybele!
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Thanks for teaching me something about Isadora Duncan, Cybele, and for those wonderful photos – I love the offerings of the shoes and roses.
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glad you liked it Andrea!! thank you!!
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Excellent photographs… Remarkable, indeed!. ⭐
Sending you all my best wishes Cybele!. Aquileana 😀
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Thank you again Aquileana!
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Amazing photo processing, I especially like the Eiffel Tower and the last shot with red rose and ballerinas.
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So glad you liked them!!! Thank you Norma!
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The image of “Alice” is brilliant! So dreamy, and mysterious.
I love Paris. I’ve been only 3 times, and would love to go many more times! I don’t think I’ll ever see all of it or be bored with it.
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Thanks so much Deborah!! Oh me too for Paris!!
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Love your pics of Paris and, I don’t know about you, but old cemeteries can be fascinating! 😀
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Thanks Linda and I agree about cemeteries.
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OMG I LOVE these Cybele!!!
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thank so much Sarah for your enthusiasm!!!
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Thank YOU for exciting my creative tastebuds 😀
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So pleased by your lovely feedback Sarah!! Thank you.
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My pleasure 🙂
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je ne travaille peu ce traitement et c’est vrai que ça rend bien dans certains clichés où il y a un côté dramatique
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merci, l’angevine. J’ aime ce traitment aussi. Vous avez un blog magnifique!
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Wonderful post Cybele.
And Paris…ahhh…my #1 all time favorite city.
I have a return visit on my bucket list….although I’m hoping to return sooner rather than later.
Now I will wait impatiently to see the rest of your photos 🙂
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Merci, merci Tracy. I hope I can revisit too!!!
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As Poppy says, a touch of fantasy with undertones – wonderful work, Cybele. 🙂
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thank you so much Sue!!
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Beautiful, sensitive portrait that works so well in monochrome Cybele. And i llove the story of the balerina… and the wonderful, unusual angle on the Tour Effel!
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Glad you enjoyed the post Chris. Thanks so much for your comment!!
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You’ve captured a very atmospheric mood Cybele . A touch of fantasy with undertones . I really like this .
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thanks so much Poppy!! I’m glad you sensed that touch of ethereal!!!
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Love the Eiffel Tower shot Cyb….that’s such a great perspective and very dramatic. Love the portrait too…….it has a feel of CGI animation
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thank you for a lovely comment Mark!! ( and I’m so relieved this child photo was not too creepy for a few of my blogging buddies 😀 -) I do tend toward the brooding!! Isn’t Paris grand!!!
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Oh yes, much preferred this to the dolls 😊
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Mark, you weren’t the only one who finds the dolls disturbing – but I have two more weeks of One Four Challenge and so I am thinking to just go for it and do an Attack of the Zombie dolls!! 😀
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Amazing photos!
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thanks so much Valerie!
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Great images and processes! Beautiful Alice peering, Cybele!
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I’m so pleased you like it Amy! Thank you!
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such a romantic lens you have to capture positive delights and uncertain mystery!
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what a great comment- thank you!!
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Thank you, Cybele, for publishing this post, following on from our little exchange of comments about Isadora a few days ago!
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I’m so pleased you like it and I just put a dedication to you there!! Thank you!
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Ooo, that’s kind of you 🙂
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Stunning photos, your daughter is gorgeous and you captured her in such inoccent child pose..i love the story of the balerina also ☺️
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Thank you so much Dido!! yes Isadora has a tale of her own!!
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Love the play of light & shadow and the softness of this image, Cybele. Quite gorgeous!
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment Debbie!!
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I ADORE ballet and didn’t know you used to study. We have season tix and the season starts in a couple weeks for us. I’m so happy you shared this story. Beautiful images and nice little part of history!
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yay!! One more thing in common!! Thanks so much for commenting Laura!!! Enjoy your season in dance!!!!
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Thank you! :))) I live for the pas de deux!
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Engaging portrait that works because of your composition and lighting, especially in monochrome.
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Thank you Sally!!
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Fabulous shots!
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Thanks so much Maverick!!
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