Boulevard St. Germain 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Gustav Böhm’s “Boulevard St. Germain,” part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. The precise date is unknown. Editor: It feels so light, almost ephemeral. The linework is delicate, like a memory fading into the Parisian sky. Curator: Observe how the artist depicts the bustling boulevard. Consider the social dynamics at play—the classes mingling, the emergence of new transportation like early automobiles, and the architectural backdrop that frames it all. What kind of labor went into constructing these buildings, and who benefited from this urban development? Editor: Yes, and see how the spire of the church dominates the composition, contrasting with the angularity of the buildings and suggesting a hierarchy of values at the time. The lines create depth. Curator: Precisely! Böhm's rendering allows us to consider the socio-economic fabric of Parisian life at the turn of the century. Editor: Indeed, it's a fascinating lens through which to examine a moment in time. Curator: I agree. This piece prompts one to look beyond mere aesthetics.