Place de la Concorde 

Antoine Blanchard captured "Place de la Concorde" with oil on canvas, presenting a view of Parisian life through a composition dominated by vertical and horizontal lines. Blanchard uses light to create a dynamic interplay across the wet pavement and the architectural facades. The painting is structured by the strong verticality of the obelisk, balanced by the horizontal spread of the buildings and the square. The loose, expressive brushstrokes give a sense of movement and energy, reflecting the bustling city life. Blanchard’s technique blurs the distinction between the subject and its representation, engaging with the impressionistic ideas of capturing a fleeting moment. The reflections on the wet ground not only add depth but also destabilize the solid forms, questioning the permanence and structure of the urban landscape. The painting invites us to reflect on how the city itself is a construction, both physical and perceptual, constantly shifting under the gaze of its inhabitants and artists.