Study for Paris Street; Rainy Day 1877

Gustave Caillebotte made this graphite sketch, *Study for Paris Street; Rainy Day*, in preparation for his large oil painting capturing a modern Parisian street scene. The 19th-century Parisian cityscape was undergoing massive transformation. The broad boulevards were not just about aesthetics; they were about power, control, and the management of urban populations. Caillebotte, a flâneur of sorts, observes the dance of modern life, but his position as a wealthy, white, heterosexual man undeniably shapes his perspective. It is hard not to wonder whose stories are missing. Which perspectives were deemed unworthy of representation? The sketch hints at a world bustling with activity, yet also underscores the isolation and anonymity that can come with urban existence. Ultimately, this study invites us to consider not just the physical transformation of Paris, but also the social and emotional landscape of a city grappling with its own identity.