Boulevard des Сapucines 

Edouard Cortes painted this bustling Parisian street scene using oil on canvas. As an artist of the Post-Impressionist era, Cortes captured everyday life in Paris with a focus on light and atmosphere. The Boulevard des Capucines represents the heart of Parisian commerce and culture at the turn of the century. The painting’s impressionistic style evokes the vibrant and transient nature of modern urban life. The horse-drawn carriages and well-dressed pedestrians suggest a society still rooted in tradition, but eager to embrace progress. Cortes' artistic choice mirrors the societal transformations happening in France at this time. He was able to capture the spirit of the Belle Époque, with its optimism and rapid change. As historians, we use city records, newspapers and photographs to understand not only what this place looked like, but what it meant to those who lived there. The painting freezes a moment in time, but it also opens a window onto the social conditions that shaped this vibrant metropolis.