Champs-Élysées 

Edouard Cortes created this oil painting of the Champs-Élysées sometime in the 20th century. Here we see a scene of Parisian life, a moment in time captured with a focus on the atmosphere of a snowy day in the city. The composition directs our eyes toward the Arc de Triomphe, a monument commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to honor those who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. The Champs-Élysées itself has historically been a site for military parades and national celebrations, and continues to serve an important role in France's national identity. Cortes painted the city not only as a physical place but also as a social and cultural hub. His work highlights the intersection of history, daily life, and national pride. To understand it better, we might look at the history of Paris, the development of the city's urban spaces, or the role of national monuments in shaping French identity. Art is contingent on its social and institutional context.