Angle rue Mabillon et rue Clément, en 1907. 5ème et 6ème arrondissements 1907

Frédéric Houbron painted this watercolor of the corner of Rue Mabillon and Rue Clément in 1907, capturing a street corner in Paris. What gets me about this piece is the way Houbron uses watercolor to create this sense of place. It’s soft and kind of dreamy, like a memory. The buildings are solid, but the colors are light, almost faded, and the posters on the wall are just these beautiful daubs of colour. The brushwork is loose, not too fussy, allowing the water to do its thing, to create these lovely washes and bleeds. Look at the way the light hits the buildings, particularly the right hand side, where the sun seems to catch the brickwork. It’s so simple, just a few strokes of warm colour, but it brings the whole scene to life. There's something very Corot about that light. Or maybe even Turner, in the way that the atmosphere feels so tangible. It’s as if you could step right into this painting and wander down that street. I find it kind of beautiful how a few simple marks can evoke so much.