Les belles de nuit 1905

Jean Béraud painted "Les belles de nuit," presumably in oil, with a real feel for the fleeting moments of Parisian nightlife. The brushstrokes, especially in the figures, are quick and deliberate, not fussing with details but getting right to the essential shapes and textures. I’m drawn to the way Béraud captures the light filtering through the trees, dappling the scene with soft glows. Notice how the layers of paint create a sense of depth, with the figures in the foreground almost emerging from the darker, more loosely rendered background. The palette is restrained – mostly creams, blacks, and greens – but within that, there's a real sensitivity to tone. The dresses are rendered in an almost translucent way, the brushwork is delicate and conveys the textures of silk and lace. It's not about photorealistic detail; it's about capturing the atmosphere, the mood. Béraud reminds me a bit of Manet. Like Manet, he's interested in the everyday, but there's also a touch of theatricality, and a real appreciation for ambiguity.