Place Saint Michel, Notre Dame 

Edouard Cortes captured Place Saint Michel and Notre Dame in paint, likely on canvas, using the alla prima technique. The quick, wet-on-wet application gives the painting a sense of immediacy, like a snapshot of Parisian life. The visible brushstrokes, particularly in the sky and wet streets, create texture and movement. Cortes has laid down thin layers to depict architecture, while thicker impasto evokes the bustling crowd and the shine of the rain-slicked pavement. Looking closely, you can see how the artist layered colors to create depth and atmosphere. The muted tones reflect the overcast sky. The artist has captured the daily life of ordinary people, at work and play, in a specific time and place. The image invites us to consider the relationship between the artist’s hand, the scene he depicts, and the rapid pace of modern life, connecting us to the social and cultural context of early 20th-century Paris. Appreciating the materials, the making, and the context encourages a deeper understanding of the artwork, inviting us to look beyond traditional categories of fine art.