Raffles 1887
Postcards from Paris
Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once declared, “An artist has no home in Europe except in Paris,” and it is no secret that many of art history’s greatest names lived, studied and worked in the French capital. Inspired by the city’s unique artistic legacy, British digital fashion illustrator JASON BROOKS offers a collection of hauntingly beautiful drawings, each one evoking the charm and aesthetic heritage of the City of Light.
Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris
Not just a supremely chic hotel, but a destination for art enthusiasts with its own contemporary gallery, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris appealed to Jason for its architectural rhythm which he likened to a musical score. His drawing depicts the hotel’s façade, with its variations in window and balcony styles.
An avid fan of Philippe Starck’s work, Jason captures the interior designer’s blend of classical proportions with cool contemporary touches in the second illustration, made inside the hotel. 37 avenue Hoche
Montmartre
Artists such as Henri Matisse, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Pierre-Auguste Renoir once congregated in the lively hilltop village of Montmartre. It’s also where Jason resided while he was working on his illustrated journal, Paris Sketchbook. One of his fondest memories from that time, he says, was observing the Eiffel Tower in the changing light from his apartment.
Coco Chanel’s apartment
A passion for fashion inspired Jason to sketch Coco Chanel’s apartment at 31 rue Cambon, the legendary designer’s place of sanctuary. Jason draws Coco Chanel’s salon with a light touch in the spirit of her eponymous brand, while looking out for the motifs she adored: lions, camellias, the number 5 and the letter C. The apartment is not open to the public.
Musée Rodin
Musée Rodin is dedicated to the work of one of the city’s most prominent artists: François Auguste René Rodin. The grandeur and scale of the building’s entrance hall and staircase provide an elegant backdrop to the beautiful sculptures and drawings housed within, and inspired this beautiful postcard. 77 Rue de Varenne
Café de Flore
Jason found Café de Flore particularly inspiring for the brilliant sense of style of its former patrons – Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Yves Saint Laurent and Simone de Beauvoir, to name but a few. 172 Bd Saint-Germain
Jason Brooks is the author of Paris Sketchbook. Credited with being among the first to bring digital technology to the field of fashion illustration, Jason has worked with many luxury and lifestyle brands, including Chanel, Lancôme, Tiffany & Co, Virgin Atlantic, Veuve Clicquot, Lucasfilm, Sotheby’s and Super Yachts Monaco. More than 70 of his prints and drawings are held in the permanent collection of London’s V&A Museum. @jasonbrooksart