Avenue d'Orleans 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Jean François Raffaëlli's "Avenue d'Orleans," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It captures a busy Parisian street, but there’s almost a sense of… detachment? What do you see in this piece? Curator: It speaks to the rise of urban realism in late 19th-century Paris. Raffaëlli focused on depicting modern life, but without idealizing it. Notice how he captures the burgeoning crowds, the starkness of the architecture, and the overall sense of anonymity that comes with urban expansion. Editor: So, it’s less about romanticizing Paris and more about documenting its realities? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to consider who is being represented and how. Whose Paris are we seeing, and whose stories are being told or left out? Editor: That definitely gives me a new perspective on how to view not just this painting, but others that try to capture a specific time and place. Curator: Indeed. It’s about acknowledging the social forces at play in the creation and reception of art.