Little Eyes in the Louvre

An unexpected masterclass in Parisian Culture

Above: “Le point est le même, le bassin est le même, les nymphéas sont les mêmes.' In his rhythmic and melodic French, a father shows his daughter how time transforms nature.

I had forgotten the tyranny of school calendars until last month in Paris. My 18-year-old niece, fresh from six weeks of organic farming in southern France during her gap year, had suggested we meet there before her return to New York. Neither of us had thought to check the October ½ term dates.  

Fast forward, and there we were. The museums were swarmed with French children, but not as we expected. To our delight, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. They moved through the galleries with purpose, some trailing behind parents with sketchbooks in hand, others pressing audio guides to their ears. We found ourselves lingering near them, drawn to the careful way adults guided young eyes through each painting. Their voices, slow and precise in French, wove stories of art and life that even we could follow, or at least my niece could. We were mesmerised.

In a city where authentic moments can feel elusive, we had stumbled upon something rare. The Paris we discovered that week wasn’t in our guidebooks — it was in the quiet exchanges between parents and children, in their shared contemplation of beauty. All because we arrived, unknowingly, during school holidays.

Above: Children we encountered last week in the museums of Paris. Some of them even match the paintings. Click through to see more. N.B.: Their images have been transformed into watercolours by Waterlogue.