This beautiful gouache magnifies the interior architecture of a Parisian bistro in the Villette district, notably its ceiling and blue paintings reflected in mirrors, with more classical furniture in the lower part: on the left, the dark wood-coloured bar, a small partition halfway up in light brown; on the right, a corner table with a chair; in the middle of the gouache, other bistro chairs and two coats hanging at the back of the room, under a mirror.

In addition to the harmonies of blue and brown tones, the transverse ceiling, its reflection on the mirror on the left, the verticality of the central post and the diagonals of the bar and the table, make our gaze circulate in all the recesses of the bistro, in particular on the spherical light fittings – or their reflections, we don’t know any more – hung high up.

The absence of customers, only betrayed by the two coats hung together, helps us to concentrate on the intrinsic magic of the place.

A vision of a bygone Paris where bright colours could be part of life and naturally inspired young painters.