Pont Neuf 

Edouard Cortes painted this scene of the Pont Neuf in Paris with oil on canvas, likely in the early to mid-20th century. The Pont Neuf, or "New Bridge," despite its name, is actually the oldest standing bridge across the Seine. Cortes' painting captures not just the physical space, but also the vibrant social life around it. The hazy atmosphere and flickering gas lamps evoke a sense of Belle Époque Paris, a time of rapid industrialization, class division and cultural flourishing. Consider the figures populating the bridge, they represent a cross-section of Parisian society, from bourgeois families to working-class individuals, all sharing this public space. To truly understand this work, we can delve into the archives to uncover the urban planning initiatives of the time, newspaper articles documenting daily life, and even fashion plates illustrating the clothing worn by Parisians. It allows us to understand the conditions that shaped the artist's vision and, in turn, the meaning we extract from the artwork today.