Short Story Fiction
For the Love of Art
Scott A. Gese

Svetlana Pochatun/Unsplash

At the young age of twenty-three, Julia Richards moved to Paris.

She knew no one, spoke little French and had no money of her own. What she did have was a dream and parents willing to support her financially until she got on her feet.

As a small child she had visited Paris with her parents. It was an extended business trip with her father.

The trip to Paris had impressed Julia's young mind so much, she knew someday she would live there.

While attending a prestigious New York art school she conversed online with several American expats her father had put her in touch with. Just before her graduation they helped her find a small loft apartment which she rented sight unseen. The day after she graduated Julia bought a one way ticket to Paris.

~~~

Julia stepped off the plane with nothing more than a suitcase, some paint supplies and a freshly minted Art Degree.

A small slip of paper with her new address was handed to a taxi driver who took her to her destination. The second floor loft was above a quaint little bakery in the Montreuil area of the city.

She woke each morning to the most amazing aroma of fresh baked bread and pastries. 

She soon befriended the young couple who owned the bakery.

It became a regular habit to spend time each morning sipping espresso and eating pastry as they helped her decipher the morning paper.

The city possessed her. Painting it was a full time love affair. Her subjects included architecture, landscapes, still life, street scenes, whatever struck a chord with her at any given moment.

She didn’t socialize much so the language came slowly. It was hard to communicate at first. There were many embarrassing and a few humorous moments as she learned.

The first year flew by. She had made several connections with local art galleries who were interested in seeing some of her work. When she felt she was ready, she let them take a look. They were highly impressed and one offered her a showing of her own.

Julia Richards was about to enter the world of art on a whole new level. The showing went well and a few of her paintings sold at top of the market prices.

A young man who had bought one of her paintings was impressed with more than Julia's art. He introduced himself and after some small talk asked her to dinner. Julia was intrigued and accepted the offer. His name was Jacques. The dinner went well, and Julia was quite enamored with her new friend.

As the days and weeks went by, they began to spend more time together. Julia was spending less time with her brushes and soon realized this was becoming a problem.

She had come to Paris to paint, not fall in love.

Early one Summer evening, as the couple strolled the Grands Boulevards, the small talk took on a more serious tone. Julia had something on her mind. She  told Jacques she cared for him and loved the time they were spending together, but... she needed to get back to spending more time with her paints and less with him.

He was crushed and did his best to persuade her otherwise. Julia stood firm in her decision. She had made her choice. As time passed, their times together  grew further apart until they stopped seeing each other altogether.

Art had become Julia's one and only love. It slowly consumed her.

Copyright 2023 by Scott A. Gese All Rights Reserved.