Julia Child is a mythical name for the history of French cuisine. Thames and Hudson publishes a new book entitled France is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul and Julia Child. Through intimate and compelling photographs taken by her husband Paul Child, a gifted photographer, it documents how famous chef Julia Child first discovered French cooking and the French way of life. Photography curator Katie Pratt, whose parents were close friends of the Childs, here recalls learning about art and photography from Paul Child.
Over the many years I knew Paul Child, he shared inspiration and showed by example how to live creatively and thoughtfully. I regularly saw him in Cambridge as well as Santa Barbara and France, and he always pointed me in the direction of observing and appreciating the beauty of art, wine, food, and the world around me. He had a keen sense of design and appreciation of things well crafted in every aspect of his life.
I was two years old when the Childs moved to Cambridge and were introduced to my family by my uncle, Davis Pratt, a former student of Paul’s who became a professional photographer and teacher of the medium. For the many years I was friends with Paul and Julia, I knew it was special to be around such a high level of aesthetics combined with down-to-earth hearty friendship. I tried to bookmark every experience in my mind—the patient and supportive art lessons, the meals, the travels, the cozy family times with them (though I was not related)—because even as a young girl I knew my world would be dimmer without them in it.
In Paul’s later years I visited him in Santa Barbara. Julia, still busy with her television and book projects, was often away, so I spent time with Paul, sharing his “routine”: breakfast with tea, toast, and fruit; daily walk along the beach; newspaper bought at the Biltmore Hotel; going to the hardware store on errands.
After Paul died, I continued to visit Julia in Santa Barbara. When I shared my idea with her about paying tribute to Paul’s artistic life in the form of a book of his photography, she immediately said yes. She too felt that Paul’s exceptional talents as an artist of many disciplines had been downplayed, as that was how he wanted it. It was extremely important to me that the public see and know about Paul’s work as a photographer.
He was a true artist, always pushing himself in his own creative process, continuing to explore the media he was using (primarily photography and painting) and always driven to improve on his own work.
In a world that rewards climbing the corporate ladder, Paul encouraged me to follow my heart and pursue my creative studies in Europe, learning foreign languages and making glass art. He was and today still is my mentor in my role as a photography and art consultant and curator. My perspective, and how I observe and understand the world around me, seeing design, light, color, balance, and beauty in things, is forever enhanced by my knowing Paul.
Katie Pratt
Katie Pratt is a photography curator raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, whose parents were among Paul and Julia Childs’s closest friends. She lives in Marin County, California. This text is excerpted from France is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul and Julia Child, by Alex Prud’homme & Katie Pratt. Reprinted by permission of Thames & Hudson Inc,
France is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul and Julia Child
Published by Thames and Hudson
$35
