Paris, Le Percement De La Rue Réaumur 

Maximilien Luce painted ‘Paris, Le Percement De La Rue Réaumur’ using oil on canvas. Luce was a committed anarchist, deeply moved by the plight of the working class in rapidly changing Paris. The painting captures the city’s transformation as wide boulevards were cut through dense neighborhoods, displacing many. It is an image of progress and destruction. The buildings seem to loom, their presence a stark reminder of urban renewal and its impact on the lives of Parisians. The painting makes you consider who benefits from this kind of change, and who is left behind. Luce's choice of subject is intentional, reflecting his political beliefs and highlighting the human cost of modernization. The rough, broken ground in the foreground and unfinished buildings evoke a sense of unease. How do we reconcile progress with the displacement and disruption it often causes? The painting asks us to consider the social implications of urban development.