The Bulletin #6

THE RECORD

461 OCEAN BOULEVARD / Eric Clapton (1974)

Perhaps the best way to describe Eric Clapton in July 1974, as he prepared to release this solo LP, was as a “wanted man.” After laying low for nearly three years while battling substance abuse, Clapton was being sought out—by fellow musicians, by the countless fans of his past exploits (from the Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers to Cream, Blind Faith, and the short-lived Derek & the Dominos), and by the ever-attentive music industry execs who knew they had a golden goose on their hands.

But instead of returning as the blues purist or the psychedelic guitar hero of old, Clapton chose a gentler path. As he would later explain, he went back to “the origin of his work”—that of a storyteller and songwriter. On 461 Ocean Boulevard, the focus shifts to melodies and meaning, with no need for guitar-showmanship. Just the right notes, in the right places.

An extremely tasteful comeback that proves, once again—just as Miles Davis once said—“there’s no need to play all the notes, only the good ones.”

THE BOOK

THE NEGRONI: A LOVE AFFAIR WITH A CLASSIC COCKTAIL / Matthew Hranek (2021)

A century ago, a cocktail reached perfection—so the legend goes—when Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender in Florence to strengthen his Americano by swapping soda water for gin. A bold and brilliant move. The world hasn’t looked back since.

Sure, the excesses of the holiday season are behind us, and so is "dry January" (thankfully). This love letter by Matthew Hranek to the Negroni is as delightful to read as it is to look at. More than just a beautiful object, it’s full of anecdotes, addresses, and tried-and-true twists on the original 1:1:1 recipe.

While we don’t recommend testing every variation in one weekend, we highly encourage it for anyone on the hunt for the perfect Negroni—or those fine-tuning their own signature version.

It would be a shame not to benefit from Mr. Hranek’s hard-earned Negroni wisdom…

THE EXHIBITION

PAUL STRAND, THE BALANCE OF FORCES / Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson

February 14 – April 23, 2023

While Paul Strand (1890–1976) is often celebrated as the pioneer of straight photography, this exhibition at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson explores the deeply political dimension of his work.

An heir to two major photographic traditions—often seen as opposed—Strand combined a formalist approach that asserted photography as an art form with a socially engaged perspective that used photography as a documentary tool serving political ends.

Strand remains one of the 20th century’s most influential photographers precisely because he mastered the balance between these two forces.

From early 20th-century America to Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, Sicily, and rural France, Strand elevated the often difficult daily lives of those who rarely had a voice. His iconic 1951 portrait of a young, defiant French man stands as a striking example.

Location:

Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson

79 rue des Archives, Paris 3ᵉ

THE SHOE

THE BELGIAN LOAFER (1950's)

When it comes to both comfort and style, we tend to firmly believe that slip-ons are hard to beat, really. From Alden’s tassels to Weston’s iconic 180, loafers are both work and play and even come in a variety of classic styles that allows you to add flavors to your daily shoe game. A slightly lesser-known variant, more recently making a comeback, is the Belgian Loafer.

Designed in the ’50s by Henri Bendel, the Belgian Loafer is a hand-sewn, hand-turned loafer (hence its comfort), originally manufactured in Izegem, Belgium (hence its name). The slip-on became a favorite in the ’60s as comfort and class were definitely the themes of the day.

Its shape and construction are unmistakably clean and minimalist. If its traditional little bow clearly isn’t for everybody’s taste, know that different takes are available on this classic design. Some will see a pair of slippers, designed to be worn outside, and that pretty much is what they are. Probably what gives them this uniquely nonchalant European flair…