Champs-Élysées 

Edouard Cortes painted this streetscape of the Champs-Élysées using oil on canvas, a technique rooted in centuries of European fine art. But rather than focusing on grand historical narratives or portraiture, Cortes captured the pulse of modern Parisian life. Consider the materiality of oil paint itself: its capacity for capturing light, its fluid blending, and the way it can evoke atmosphere. Cortes uses these qualities to depict a wet, bustling avenue, complete with early automobiles and the glow of streetlights. The painting isn't just a snapshot of a place; it's a snapshot of a moment in time, capturing a city transformed by industry and commerce. Look closely and you will see the signs of a burgeoning consumer culture. The artist's skilled application of paint brings this modern world to life, reminding us that even the most traditional materials can be used to explore the changing realities of urban existence, inviting us to consider how the everyday intersects with broader social and economic shifts.