Real ink. Real watercolor. A little Paris.
Paris café art prints.
Bring your favorite
Paris home.
That café you still talk about. That trip you want to take again. Hand-drawn Paris wall art by French caricaturist and illustrator Sébastien Rieu — made for the places you live, and the people you love.
Drawn by hand in France · Printed in the USA
Real artworks on paper · No AI
01 / The studio collection
Famous places.
A thousand little stories.
More detailed compositions, full of café tables, waiters, old cars and small Parisian dramas. A touch of 1960s nostalgia for a kitchen, a reading corner or a gift for a Paris lover.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés · Ink & watercolor
Café de Flore
Your morning coffee, with a little Saint-Germain. Café tables, a classic Citroën and a whole neighborhood in one drawing.
The story behind the drawing
A gathering place for writers and artists, forever associated with Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Look for the tiny figures: the life of the café matters as much as its famous facade.
Visit the venue’s website ↗
Montparnasse · Ink & watercolor
Le Dôme
For the reader who dreams of 1920s Paris. A watercolor tribute to the café life of Montparnasse.
The story behind the drawing
Founded in 1898, Le Dôme is associated with the international artists and writers of Montparnasse, including Hemingway and Modigliani. The drawing brings its architecture and street life together.
Gare de Lyon · Ink drawing
Le Train Bleu
Paris, before the train leaves. A grand railway restaurant for anyone who loves travel and old-world glamour.
The story behind the drawing
Opened in 1901 at Gare de Lyon, the restaurant belongs to the era of the 1900 Paris World’s Fair. Its lavish setting also appears in Mr. Bean’s Holiday.
Visit the venue’s website ↗
Pigalle · Ink drawing
Bouillon Pigalle
A busy sidewalk, a lively crowd, a very Parisian appetite. There is always another detail to discover.
The story behind the drawing
Opened in 2017, Bouillon Pigalle revives the traditional bouillon: a bustling restaurant serving familiar French dishes. Here, the story continues outside, among the customers and passersby.
Visit the venue’s website ↗
Near the Eiffel Tower · Ink drawing
La Fontaine de Mars
The Paris bistro you wish were around the corner. A little French character for a kitchen or breakfast nook.
The story behind the drawing
Founded in 1908, this classic bistro near the Eiffel Tower welcomed Barack Obama for dinner in 2009. The drawing celebrates the neighborhood as much as the restaurant.
Visit the venue’s website ↗
Saint-Germain · Ink drawing
Le Procope
A café with centuries of conversation behind it. For history lovers, book lovers and incurable Francophiles.
The story behind the drawing
Founded in 1686, Le Procope is closely associated with Voltaire, the Enlightenment and the political life of Paris. Its old facade becomes a small theater of everyday life.
Visit the venue’s website ↗
Le Marais · Ink drawing
Musée Carnavalet
A quieter Paris, tucked into the Marais. Historic architecture with the warmth and wit of a hand-drawn scene.
The story behind the drawing
The museum of the history of Paris occupies historic mansions in the Marais. Madame de Sévigné once lived in the Hôtel Carnavalet, adding a literary chapter to the building’s story.
Montmartre · Ink & watercolor
The Moulin Rouge
A little showtime for your wall. The famous red windmill, seen through a French illustrator’s eyes.
The story behind the drawing
The Moulin Rouge is one of the great symbols of Parisian entertainment. This watercolor belongs to the same hand-drawn Paris collection as the cafés and restaurants.
Studio spotlight · Rue Royale
An evening at Maxim’s.
Red velvet, curling gold and a cocktail at the bar. This is Paris with its evening dress on — a colorful print for a dining room, a home bar or someone with a weakness for old-world glamour.
The woman at the counter is my interpretation of Tara King, from the British TV series The Avengers, in a Pierre Cardin dress. A playful nod to the designer who later bought Maxim’s.
Choose size — from $29The drawing that opened the doors.
After lunch at Maxim’s, I gave this drawing to the dining-room manager. He invited me to explore and film the house, from the bar to the upper floors. These are my photographs from that visit.
A little history: founded in 1893, Maxim’s became a Belle Époque legend, with its Art Nouveau interior taking shape around 1900. Pierre Cardin acquired the restaurant in 1981. Its curved woodwork, mirrors and sculptural lamps make the room feel like a work of art you can dine inside.
More of my photos & the full story (in French) ↗Maxim’s official website ↗
Use the player’s full-screen button, or watch in 2K on YouTube ↗
02 / The Paris sketchbook
A table. A coffee.
A moment in Paris.
Looser lines, fewer details, more of the moment. Drawn on location, often in 30–45 minutes: a quick pencil layout, then ink. Sometimes the coffee gets cold. The watercolor comes when the scene calls for it.
The Paris stop a Swiftie will recognize
A Swiftie at the
Plaza Athénée.
Taylor Swift mentions the Plaza Athénée in “Elizabeth Taylor.” My friend, a longtime fan, took me there. Naturally, I brought my sketchbook.
I drew her in La Cour Jardin, surrounded by the hotel’s red awnings, greenery and café tables. A personal Paris memory — and a gift idea for a Swiftie who loves France.
Choose size — from $29▶ Watch the Short — sound on
The portrait is of my friend. Independent artwork; no affiliation with Taylor Swift or the hotel.
The song connection
The hotel named in the song also has a real connection to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Read the explanation from Elizabeth Taylor’s official website ↗
Watch the drawing come to life
Watch the Short on YouTube ↗
Place de l’Opéra · Ink & color
Café de la Paix
An afternoon outside the Opéra Garnier: coffee, conversation and Paris passing by.
About this sketch
This café opened in 1862 and is associated with writers including Zola and Oscar Wilde. Drawn on location over two hours, this scene takes more time than the quick ink sketches beside it.
Near Parc Monceau · Ink sketch
Le Valois
A seat at the bar in a real neighborhood café. The everyday Paris visitors hope to find.
About this sketch
On Place Rio de Janeiro, near Parc Monceau, Le Valois is a neighborhood stop away from the best-known tourist routes. Drawn on location in under 30 minutes.
Grands Boulevards · Ink sketch
Café Capucines
Brasserie life in a few decisive lines: a busy interior, a passing moment, a page in a Paris sketchbook.
About this sketch
Near the Opéra Garnier and the Olympia, the Grands Boulevards have long mixed cafés and entertainment. Drawn on location in about 45 minutes.
Place de la Madeleine · On-location photo
Grand Café Fauchon
The sketchbook and the view that inspired it, photographed together on the terrace.
About this sketch
Fauchon’s story on Place de la Madeleine began in 1886. This color sketch was made on location in about 45 minutes. The photo shown here documents the drawing in progress; ask to see the artwork prepared for a print.
Watch the Fauchon sketch on location
Covered passage · Ink sketch
Galerie Vivienne
Glass overhead, mosaics underfoot, people going about their day. A hidden corner of Paris to keep.
About this sketch
Opened in 1826, Galerie Vivienne is known for its glass roof and mosaic floors. Drawn on location in about 45 minutes: a challenge in perspective, with a few characters to keep it lively.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés · Ink sketch
Les Deux Magots
The café terrace, from a seat at the café. A loose, lively keepsake for anyone who has left their heart in Paris.
About this sketch
The café takes its name from two figures inherited from an earlier shop. Its literary history includes Verlaine, Rimbaud and the writers of Saint-Germain. Drawn on location in about 30 minutes.
Make room for a little Paris
Your drawing.
Three print sizes.
Museum-quality matte paper. Printed to order in the USA.
Unframed, with free US shipping.
The complete artwork is preserved. Paper orientation follows the drawing; white margins allow for different proportions.
Paper sizes, short side × long side. Choose a print to request the format you want. Delivery details are confirmed before payment.
From the artist’s own paper
The characters make the place.
I’m Sébastien Rieu, a French caricaturist, illustrator and painter with 25 years of experience. Even when I draw a building, I’m looking for its characters: a waiter balancing a tray, a dog under a chair, two people with plenty to say.
The studio drawings combine research into the setting with ink, watercolor and a little imagination. The sketchbook captures the people and places in front of me. Every print begins with an artwork made by hand on paper.
Meet the artist →A keepsake with a story.
- A Paris trip to remember: choose a place you visited together.
- A gift for a Francophile: café culture, literary Paris or Belle Époque glamour.
- Your own café corner: a French art print beside your books, coffee maker or dining table.
See more of the collection:Explore the wider French art print collection →
Before you choose your Paris.
Am I buying a print or an original drawing?
These prices are for physical, unframed art prints reproducing existing drawings. The ink and watercolor originals were made on paper by Sébastien Rieu. Ask separately about an original’s availability and price.
Are the artworks really drawn by hand?
Yes. Sébastien Rieu is a French caricaturist and illustrator with 25 years of experience. Every artwork starts with real ink, pencil or watercolor on paper. No AI-generated artwork is used.
What sizes can I choose?
12 × 16 inches for $29, 18 × 24 inches for $39, or 24 × 36 inches for $49. These are paper sizes, shown short side first. The page orientation follows the artwork. White margins preserve the complete drawing when its proportions differ from the paper.
Is the frame included?
No. Prints are sold unframed, so you can choose a frame that suits your room. The full drawing is preserved; it is not cropped to fill the paper.
Where are the prints made and shipped?
Prints are made to order in the USA on museum-quality matte paper, with free US shipping. The delivery estimate is confirmed before payment. If you need a gift by a particular date, include that date in your request.
How do I order?
Choose a drawing and a size, then continue to the contact form. Your selection is filled in for you. Send your request and the artist will confirm the details and payment arrangements. Choosing a print on this page does not place or charge an order.
Why do some drawings look more spontaneous?
The studio illustrations are more detailed compositions, with time spent researching architecture and bringing the scene to life. The Paris sketchbook captures visits on location: often 30–45 minutes, sometimes longer. Both are drawn by hand; they offer two different ways to remember Paris.
What is the Taylor Swift connection?
Taylor Swift’s song “Elizabeth Taylor” mentions the Plaza Athénée. The drawing shows the artist’s friend, a Swift fan, in the hotel’s La Cour Jardin. It is an independent artwork of the visit, with no endorsement or affiliation implied.
Have a favorite place of your own?
A family home, a café or a restaurant with a story: ask about a drawing from your photos.
For an original, a personal commission or illustration rights, contact the artist directly.
