Standing outside the Musée national Jean-Jacques Henner, you’re looking at a classic Parisian mansion with a bit of a backstory. This place was built in 1878-right when Paris was obsessed with grand townhouses for folks who definitely did not have to check their bank balance before ordering a second café crème. The museum isn’t one of those ancient institutions by Parisian standards; it opened its doors in 1924, all thanks to some serious determination by Marie Henner-family connections and a penchant for following instructions too thoroughly.
Inside, the art is almost all by Jean-Jacques Henner, an Alsatian painter who loved portraits and surreal, dreamy scenes long before those were trending on Instagram. There are more than a thousand sketches, letters, and even notes from critics. Walk through and you will spot his studies set right next to the finished masterpieces-like a peek behind the curtain, or an artist’s messy desk preserved for nosey parkers.
Alright, ready for a bit of a stroll? Rue Puvis-de-Chavannes is just west from here, a 9-minute walk that’ll stretch your legs and your imagination.
