Quay du Louvre 

Edouard Cortes painted this view of the Quay du Louvre in Paris, likely sometime in the early twentieth century. It presents a moment of urban life in transition. The painting balances traditional elements, such as the grand architecture of the Louvre, with signs of modernity like the electric streetcar and automobiles. Paris at this time was a city undergoing massive changes. Rapid industrialization brought both progress and social challenges. Artists like Cortes captured these shifts, often focusing on the beauty and dynamism of city life, while perhaps sidestepping deeper questions of class and labor. To fully appreciate this painting, we might turn to sources like period photographs or city planning documents. These resources reveal not only the physical changes to Paris but also the social and economic forces shaping its identity. Examining such sources alongside Cortes' work enriches our understanding of how art reflects, and sometimes obscures, the realities of its time.