Passage Alfred Stevens

We stand before the Passage Alfred Stevens, a hidden gem tucked away in the bustling 9th arrondissement. The passage, a short stretch of covered street, is named for the talented Belgian painter Alfred Stevens who lived in Paris in the mid-19th century. Even though Stevens himself made his name painting the Parisian elite, his elegant interiors and portraits don’t feel out of place here, where the rich and glamorous once frequented Parisian ateliers. Imagine the creative energy that would have filled this passage in the bygone era. The passage is a short walk from the Rue Alfred Stevens, named after the painter too. But the passage itself is more than just a street; it’s a portal to the past. You can almost hear the clacking of heels on the cobblestones as Parisian fashionistas emerged from grand stores to browse the latest fashions. Even today, the grand entrances along the passage hint at the passage’s former glory. Look closely at the sculpted faces on the facade at the entrance to the passage on Boulevard de Clichy. They are the work of Leon Parvillée, a talented ceramist who became famous for his orientalist ceramics. He created these medallions in the 1880s, the epitome of Parisian Art Nouveau. The Passage Alfred Stevens is a hidden gem, a reminder of a bygone era when art and fashion collided in the heart of Paris.