museum

Paris has been captured by many artists, but there’s a certain kind of Paris that only Agnès Varda saw. Not the postcard-perfect one of glossy guidebooks, but a city alive with small details, chance encounters, and overlooked lives. That Paris is now on display at the Musée Carnavalet in Le Paris d’Agnès Varda, de-ci, de-là, a new exhibition offering visitors an intimate look at Paris through the lens of one of France’s most iconic and inventive filmmakers. Le Paris d’Agnès Varda, de-ci, de-là invites audiences to explore the director’s deep connection to the French capital, blending film, photography, and art in a way that reflects Varda’s unique creative vision.

Agnès Varda (1928–2019) was a trailblazer in French cinema, often considered the only female director associated with the French New Wave—though she carved out a space entirely her own. Known for films like Cléo from 5 to 7, Vagabond, and One Sings, the Other Doesn’t, Varda blended documentary and fiction, art and activism, personal stories and political commentary. Her work was always deeply human, often centering on women’s experiences, marginalized voices, and the quiet poetry of daily life. But Varda was more than a filmmaker—she was also a photographer, installation artist, and tireless observer of the world around her.

Curated by photography historian Anne de Mondenard, Le Paris d’Agnès Varda offers a layered portrait of the filmmaker through archival film clips, photographs, personal objects, and whimsical installations. The exhibition allows visitors to wander—just as Varda did—through her favorite Parisian neighborhoods: Rue Daguerre, Montparnasse, the Left Bank, and beyond. 

For deeper insight into how the exhibition came together, listen to the latest episode of the WRP Presents podcast, where curator Anne de Mondenard discusses Varda’s legacy and her enduring influence on art and film.