Flower Stalls at La Madeleine 

Edouard Cortes captured this oil on canvas painting titled "Flower Stalls at La Madeleine." Born in France to a family of artists, Cortes carried on the tradition of painting en plein air. The Belle Époque era, during which he spent much of his career, was a period of optimism, peace, and economic prosperity in Europe. His paintings offered nostalgic portrayals of Parisian life, emphasizing its beauty and charm. The flower stalls, overflowing with blooms, were typically run by women, and here they are depicted among the bustling crowd. The painting subtly highlights the social divisions of the era, depicting bourgeois families strolling leisurely, while others work to sell their wares. The artist neither romanticizes nor critiques city life, but evokes a sentimental longing for simpler times. Cortes once said that he painted what he saw, “or rather what I felt.” He painted a city that, even then, perhaps only existed in memory. His painting invites us to consider how memories shape our understanding of the present, and to reflect on the complex realities of urban life.