Place de la Madeleine 

Editor: We’re looking at Édouard Cortès’ *Place de la Madeleine*, a painting depicting a bustling Parisian street scene. I’m struck by how the warm glow of the gaslights creates such a cozy atmosphere despite the snowy weather. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It’s interesting you say "cozy," because Cortès was painting during a time of massive social upheaval. The "City of Lights" was also a city of stark inequalities. How do you think the artist navigates depicting both the charm and the realities of urban life in this era? Do you think the figures presented are generalized or do they convey different experiences? Editor: I see your point. The figures are somewhat anonymous, suggesting perhaps a focus on the collective experience of city life rather than individual narratives. Maybe that warmth I feel is also a kind of idealized vision, a romanticized version of Paris. Curator: Exactly! And who gets to experience that romanticized version? Consider the composition - the buildings loom, the perspective flattens, pushing people together. Is that intimacy or claustrophobia? We have to remember urban planning, even aesthetics, are never neutral. Editor: So you’re saying even in a seemingly straightforward cityscape, there’s a commentary on social structures and power dynamics? Curator: Precisely. It is crucial to remember the artwork reflects broader societal narratives regarding identity and race. Editor: That makes me see it in a completely different light. I was so caught up in the pretty colours, that I completely missed what's between the lines, or rather, in the brushstrokes! Curator: Indeed. There is much more to this painting once we realize its societal underpinnings, offering a lot to the contemporary researcher of urban theory.