Theatre du Vaudeville 

Editor: So, here we have Edouard Cortes' painting "Theatre du Vaudeville," it seems undated. The piece is rendered in oil paint, depicting a bustling Parisian street scene. What really strikes me is how the wet street reflects the warm glow of the theatre lights, creating a vibrant yet somehow melancholy atmosphere. What's your take on this piece? Curator: It's interesting to consider this painting in relation to the development of mass entertainment and leisure in urban centers. Oil paint, easily transportable, allows Cortes to create a readily consumable image of Parisian life for a bourgeoning art market. Look at how the artist uses impasto. Notice the thickness of the paint on the street, almost palpable under your fingers. To what extent does the texture add value, by evoking a sense of immediacy in a newly industrialized society? Editor: I see what you mean. It's not just a picture; it's almost like a manufactured experience of Paris. But why focus so much on the texture? Curator: Because the materiality of the painting is central to its meaning. The oil paint, produced in factories, mass-distributed, is then skillfully applied. Consider that painting and viewing have transformed through capitalist consumption. So is Cortes presenting an accessible artwork, a kind of painted postcard, by selling us an image of Parisian theatre as an exclusive entertainment? Editor: That makes sense. The act of painting itself, and the materials used, are very much part of the artwork's story and impact. I hadn't thought about it like that before. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! And it is indeed quite revealing to consider this in terms of artistic means and access.