Creol Patio Royal Street, Old French Quarter 

Colette Pope Heldner created this painting of a Creole patio in New Orleans’ French Quarter, likely sometime in the mid-20th century. Heldner’s loose brushwork and choice of subject matter, a courtyard in the old French Quarter, evokes the idea of a bohemian artistic scene. The French Quarter has historically been a space set apart from the rest of New Orleans. Its European architecture and cultural traditions set it apart from the rest of the United States. The architecture is a visual code for a particular vision of the city, one of old-world charm and artistic freedom. Heldner's decision to depict this particular neighborhood speaks to her interest in capturing the unique cultural identity of New Orleans. To better understand this artwork, it would be helpful to investigate the development of tourism and art markets in New Orleans during Heldner's lifetime. In doing so, we begin to see the ways artists, and their paintings, mediate the social and economic conditions of their time.