Be a ‘Flâneur’ in the City

People often associate inspiration with nature (and yes, it is possibly the most common inspirational place) but cityscapes and the buzz of city life has also been inspiring for many people in history, and continues to be so today.

If you’re out and about in a city, here’s some ideas on what things to make sure your child takes in and notices!

• The reflections in windows.

• The angular lines of the buildings, criss-crossing one another and intersecting.

• The variety of people!

• The way the light filters through the buildings, and if it’s sunny, notice the big stretches of light and dark as you pass through shadow and sunlight.

• The noises.

• The smells.

• Stop and people-watch for a few minutes. Pick out interesting people, or people rushing in comparison to others who are taking a slow approach to city life (are these people who work there vs tourists?)

A flâneur, by the way, is a word I’ve loved for a long time, its a French word and originally referred to the 19th Century gentlemen who walked the streets of Paris, watching people as they went about their day. For me it means having a relaxed yet observational stance as you let city life pass you by. An ‘urban spectator’!

Photo taken from a blog post about a conference titled ‘The Flâneur Abroad’.