LIPP in picture : a beautiful story !
On the 15th of November, Brasserie Lipp celebrated its 130th birthday, while simultaneously presenting the illustrious Cazes prize, in honor of the founder of this mythic Saint Germain des Prés brasserie. On this occasion, and for the next two months, Lipp will be holding its first exhibition: a “historic” collection of pictures featuring the politicians, artists, and writers in what would become a Parisian myth. It doesn’t matter that the photos are of course poor quality anonymous black and white prints. Their essence was elsewhere: the pictures told of the daily theatrics taking place on the red velvet banquettes. With actors including future Prime Ministers or French Presidents (pictures of Pompidou with Giscard, the young Mitterrand and his acolytes, etc…), whispered secrets, surprise encounters, explosive laughs, commotion created by writers visiting the nearby offices of Gallimard or Le Seuil. “Dramatic faces” of actors and artists straight out of movies by Carné, Audiard, Lautner and the New Wave. Even the waiters had a cinematic supporting actor look to them, from Carette to Lino Venture. And everywhere, senior Cazes, master of the house. And these anecdotal pictures, often very tasty, now historical, still converse with the past, in this authentic décor (with ceramics by the father of the “Piéton de Paris”, the writer Léon-Paul Fargue), where even the wait-staff has a dated authenticity. These pictures are purely delightful for those who knew that Saint-Germain. And for today’s nostalgic youth.
Paul Alessandrini
Brasserie Lipp
151 Boulevard Saint Germain
75006 Paris
