St.Denis 1905

Editor: This is Edouard Cortes’ “St. Denis,” painted in 1905 using oil paint. It’s such a vibrant street scene! All that activity… It really makes me wonder about the daily lives of Parisians back then. What can we learn from Cortes’ representation of this particular street? Curator: Well, focusing on the material reality of this painting, we need to consider the shift in Parisian society reflected through Cortes' choices. The wet cobblestones reflecting gaslight...notice how he captures not just the grand architecture, but the burgeoning commercial activity. Consider the very materiality of oil paint, historically associated with "high art," now used to depict everyday life, a democratizing impulse if you will. Do you see any specific examples where the traditional hierarchy is challenged? Editor: I guess the way he depicts the figures...not as grand portraits but as everyday people – shoppers, workers. They’re all part of the same scene, given equal attention in the composition. Is the commercial aspect important? Curator: Absolutely! Think about the "Mairie" storefront, the implication of the "working people." What materials do you suppose were used to make the awning for example? How might these relate to how those materials were accessed and afforded? This challenges the established definition of fine art because he brings in "everyday lives" Editor: It does feel more real somehow than history paintings from before! By painting an everyday street and showing everyone interacting with goods, with awnings, he has democratized everything, through his work as well as the content of his art itself. Curator: Exactly! By focusing on production and making, Cortes turns painting from something that represents a past elite to documenting and, arguably, celebrating a modern and emerging materialist culture. Editor: So, we learn less about “Paris,” and more about Parisians making a life through access to things! That’s fascinating; I hadn’t thought of it that way before! Curator: Glad to offer you a fresh lens. It’s important to remember it all contributes to our viewing experiences, especially how artists reflect societal trends through materials and craft.