Les Grands Boulevards 

Edouard Cortes painted this street scene, ‘Les Grands Boulevards,’ capturing a bustling Parisian street, sometime in the early 20th century. Cortes, often called the “Painter of Paris,” lived through a period of immense social and technological change, and this is reflected in his work. The painting shows a romanticized view of city life. However, look closer and you can see signs of rapid modernization. Horse-drawn carriages share the road with early automobiles, and electric lights illuminate shops, casting a warm glow on the wet streets. Born to an artistic family—his father was also a painter—Cortes chose to focus on urban landscapes rather than rural scenes, bucking the trend. As you contemplate this painting, consider the cultural shifts happening at the time. What does it mean to depict progress so idyllically? Notice the clothing of the figures; the women’s fashion signals a departure from previous constraints and foreshadows a more liberated future. Cortes makes us reflect on progress, inviting viewers to consider how societal change shapes individual experiences and collective memory.