Place de la Republique 

Editor: Here we have what looks like an oil painting of the Place de la Republique by Edouard Cortes. The cool blues and greys give the scene a rather pensive and somber mood. What do you see in this piece that I might be missing? Curator: Pensive and somber are good words, capturing the wet cobblestones reflecting a subdued Parisian light. It reminds me of evenings in Paris, that strange quiet that descends even in a busy place. What Cortes captures is the *feeling* of a moment. Do you see how he uses those strokes of light to guide your eye, almost like a spotlight on certain figures? Editor: Yes, now that you mention it, I notice the warm highlights really make the figures pop against the cool tones of the buildings and sky. What kind of techniques did he use to achieve this effect? Curator: Cortes had such an effortless style about it! The way he's captured the reflections of gaslights, turning them into golden smears on the wet ground - it almost feels alive, doesn't it? Did you know, he often painted *en plein air*, directly on location? Imagine him, there, amidst the bustling square, chasing after the ephemeral light... That makes you consider the speed of painting, right? Editor: Wow, painting that *en plein air* is pretty remarkable. The impressionists definitely were on a mission to really capture an experience. I would think the mood would also shift rather quickly. Curator: Exactly! I'm so glad you pointed that out; the constant fluctuation surely heightened the stakes, making a final capture all the more potent and raw. Editor: I see this painting in a whole new light now! Thanks so much! Curator: And thank you, your thoughtful observation adds to my own appreciation.