Entre Le Petit Et Le Grand Palais, Avenue Alexandre-III 

Jean Béraud captured this scene of Parisian life on canvas, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, immortalizing a moment of urbanity and leisure. The painting offers a glimpse into the cultural and institutional landscape of Paris during the Belle Époque. The grand architecture of the Petit and Grand Palais, built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, frames a bustling avenue. These Palais were conceived as spaces for art and innovation. The artist situates figures from various social classes strolling along the Avenue Alexandre-III, a place for the wealthy to parade. Béraud's art captures the atmosphere of a city eager to display its cultural wealth. Understanding Béraud’s work requires studying the institutions, the great exhibitions and the artistic salons, that shaped his career and gave meaning to his paintings of modern life.