Windy Day, Place De La Concorde c. 1890

Jean Béraud captured this scene en plein air at the Place de la Concorde using oil on canvas. This approach, painting outdoors and directly observing the scene, was becoming increasingly popular among artists seeking to capture the fleeting moments of modern life. Béraud's loose brushwork and muted palette perfectly convey the dreary weather and the wind's impact. You can almost feel the chill in the air. The painting's material qualities enhance the narrative, the slick surface reflecting the wet pavement, and the subtle gradations of tone suggesting the shifting atmosphere. The artist's skill lies not only in capturing the scene but also in evoking a mood, using his materials to convey the sensory experience of a blustery day in Paris. It's worth noting that the fashionably dressed woman in the foreground represents the burgeoning consumer culture of the late 19th century. While Béraud's style is academic, his subject matter reflects a modern sensibility, elevating the everyday to the realm of art.