Les Grands Boulevards 

Editor: Édouard Cortès' *Les Grands Boulevards* presents such a vibrant street scene, almost like a hazy memory of a Parisian evening. It looks like it was painted with oil. I’m drawn to how the blurred figures and the reflections on the wet pavement seem to capture the ephemeral quality of city life. What exactly *are* we looking at here? Curator: What we're looking at is, I think, more than just a street scene. Cortès isn't simply painting what he sees; he's painting what he *feels* about Paris. This work breathes with the soul of the city! It captures a moment in time, a fleeting feeling, doesn’t it? That shimmering quality he coaxes out of the oil is practically cinematic. Editor: Cinematic is a great way to put it! I especially notice the contrast between the warmly lit shops and the cool tones of the evening sky. It almost feels staged. Curator: It is! He wants us to *feel* that tension – the excitement and mystery simmering just below the surface. Notice the positioning of figures - they're carefully arranged to draw you into the depths of the boulevard. Does it evoke in you a certain feeling? Editor: Definitely! There’s this mix of nostalgia and excitement – a longing to step into that bustling world, you know? To grab a cafe au lait and be among it all. Curator: That's Cortès' magic trick! It's like he dipped his brush in the collective heart of Paris. You almost smell the chestnuts roasting, the damp stone after a light rain, yes? He's whispering a memory into existence. Editor: That makes total sense. I now appreciate how much the technique contributes to that mood of transient beauty, as if he is freezing an atmospheric moment. Curator: Absolutely. Next time you stroll through a city, let yourself *feel* it as Cortès did! You may see more than just buildings. You might perceive the heart, yes?