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Foyer of Pompidou Centre

The Pompidou Centre contrasts very nicely with the Louvre. It is brash, loud, bright with a somewhat different clientele. It is open later – on Saturday’s the gallery at the top (where until next month the Matisse paintings can be found) is open until 2300). We managed only to get to the 3rd floor which houses the permanent painting collection up to the mid-1970s. There one finds a wealth of Picasso, Ernst, Miro, Kandinsky and even Pollock.It is vast, with each theme explored in small versatile cubicles. There are lots of little alleys each displaying surprises and examples of the moving image from the period, too. Statues adorn the many terraces (unfortunately so do the smokers).

Terrace, Pompidou Centre

The staff are also extremely knowledgeable and friendly. For example, when viewing the delightful piece by Raymond Duchamp-Villon, Le Chat, we learned about his brother and their involvement in WWI.

Duchamp_Villon