Street at Night, Paris 1902

Konstantin Korovin made this oil on canvas painting of a Parisian street at night in 1901. The vibrant, impressionistic style captures the energy of the modern city, but it also evokes the social divisions that defined the era. Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a hub of cultural and economic exchange. The city's grand boulevards, like the one depicted here, were designed to showcase its wealth and power. Yet, they also served as sites of social control, allowing authorities to monitor and regulate the movements of the population. The figures in the painting, some well-dressed and others more plainly attired, hint at the disparities of wealth and opportunity that existed beneath the surface of Parisian life. To understand the social and institutional context of this work, we can consult period newspapers and police archives to learn more about the realities of urban life at the turn of the century. Art is contingent on its moment.