Paris Evening 1905

Édouard Cortes made this oil painting, *Paris Evening*, with the deftest touch, like he was scribbling a note on atmosphere itself. Imagine him standing there, brush in hand, trying to capture the way the light bounces off the wet streets after a Parisian rain. It is a symphony of browns and oranges, a hazy, dreamy vision of the city at dusk. The paint is applied in these little, quick strokes, almost like musical notes dancing across the canvas. You can almost hear the clip-clop of horses' hooves and the murmur of voices in the crowd. Cortes really gets the feeling of a city that never sleeps, the sense of constant motion and energy. What I find so touching is how Cortes takes an everyday scene and turns it into something magical. It's a reminder that beauty can be found anywhere, even in the middle of a bustling city. He wasn't just painting a place; he was capturing a feeling, a moment in time. And it’s so relatable - aren’t we all trying to do that in our own way?