Saturday, October 25, 2014

Aix-en-Provence: the santon maker



Santons are little figures (literally, little saints) that are typical of Provence.  Originally they were made to represent the nativity, but expanded into local characters, such as women in Provencal dress, men carrying loads of sticks, and so on. In the bottom photo you can see that there's even one of Aix's well-known painter, Paul Cezanne.  The top photo shows a worker in Fouque's famous santon workshop working on a figure.  Santons come in sizes usually ranging from about a foot tall to tiny 'flea' santons, all beautifully hand-painted....and very expensive.

MOTHER AND SON PIZZA

When hunger strikes...