St.Martin 

Édouard Cortès captured this bustling Parisian street scene using oil on canvas. Consider the materiality of paint itself. How its viscosity allows for blending and layering, capturing the wet streets and the reflections of light. Look closely and you’ll see the artist’s gestures. Notice how the strokes of color have been applied to build a sense of atmosphere and movement. Cortès’s handling of oil paint transforms a simple scene into a vibrant portrayal of city life. The painting shows the energy of a modern metropolis at the turn of the century, a time of great social and economic change. The level of detail, balanced with the quick, impressionistic strokes, give us a glimpse into a world of both labor and leisure, inviting viewers to consider the complex relationship between the artist, their materials, and the society they depict. In this way, even a conventional painting like this one can offer a unique perspective on the world of work and the changing city.