The Pantheon 

Edouard Cortes painted 'The Pantheon' with oil on canvas, capturing a Parisian street scene. Cortes painted this scene, one of many like it, in the early 20th century. This was a time when Paris was asserting itself as a modern city that maintained links to the past. In the background, the Pantheon looms large, its classical architecture symbolizing the city's rich heritage. This monument embodies changing social values in France, starting as a church and then becoming a secular temple to honor prominent French figures during the Revolution. The busy street conveys the commerce of the era, while the figures of the bourgeoisie underscore the city's class structure. Art historians analyze paintings like this one in relation to documents and other materials that shed light on their original social contexts. By examining paintings such as this one, we can better understand the complex society in which they were created.