Place Saint Michel, Christmas 

Édouard Cortès captured Place Saint-Michel at Christmas, using oil on canvas to evoke a Paris blanketed in snow. The soft glow of gas lamps pierces through the wintry haze, guiding our eyes and warming the scene with life. The light, however, is more than just a source of illumination. Across time and cultures, light symbolizes knowledge, hope, and the divine, think of religious paintings from the Renaissance, where light often streams down from the heavens, carrying the same profound message. Here, it represents the enduring spirit of Paris itself. Consider how candlelight rituals in ancient times, and the continued symbolic use of candles in modern religious ceremonies, tap into this shared, subconscious reverence for light as a beacon. The emotional and psychological impact is clear: just as a flame can cut through darkness, so too can the memory of warmth and community fortify us against the cold, both literally and figuratively. Thus, light has appeared cyclically, evolving from ancient altars to Parisian street corners, carrying our hopes.