A Peculiar Place in Paris

Sometimes you get to visit strange and interesting places, and sometimes you manage to get nice outfit photos, and sometimes you visit strange and interesting places and yet don't get very nice outfit photos. Perhaps the lighting is not ideal, perhaps the person taking the photos is tired from sight seeing all day, perhaps you there in front of the camera are also quite obviously tired and jetlagged, no one can really say where things went wrong. What we can say is this: the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (museum of hunting and nature) is a rather odd little museum in Paris and well worth looking into even if you are running on too little sleep.

As you all probably realize by now from my other Paris posts, I like taxidermy and natural history displays, so when I heard about this smaller museum further off the well worn tourist path, I knew I had to add it to our itinerary. Mixing historical artworks, furnishings, hunting tools, and taxidermy with contemporary artwork inspired by hunting and the natural world, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature is a very unique place indeed. Some of the modern artworks on display are downright creepy, such as the white human head sculptures with animal (think goats or lizard) glass eyes instead of human ones. The 18th century furnishings and oil paintings are beautiful, the taxidermy mounts are almost dusty but still morbidly serene, and the pretty inlaid antique muskets serve as a reminder that while guns are made to end and destroy life, they can also be beautiful thanks to artisans who's unique skills have since vanished into time.

I myself am a very anti gun, and in turn anti hunting, and quite a liberal modern person, which is why it is hard for me to understand why hundreds of years ago (and also now) people took pleasure in terrorizing and killing animals on a monumental scale. The museum's website states their goal as "It strives to construct a calm dialogue between all nature users, hunters and non-hunters. It aims to distribute the values of a humanist ecology within society and act with sincerity – respecting human dignity – for the long-lasting use of natural resources." Which is probably not the best translation from the French version of the statement, but is an interesting goal nonetheless. To present the history of hunting as fact, and the beauty and wonder of nature as fact too, alongside one another, without judging either to be more morally correct, the museum invites you to cast aside your position upon entry and also to make your own conclusion again in the end. It was a weird place to be honest, but what greater joy is there than traveling around discovering the world's odd places?

I actually still have one more outfit from Paris, but I'll save it for autumn when velvet seems more appropriate. Until then, stay curious travelers ;)

Black Linen Suit: Made by me
Blouse: Thrifted
Shoes: Amazon
Handbag, Brooch, Earrings, & Belt: Vintage
Bracelet: Made by me