Every art lover nurses a fervent desire to pay homage at the Mecca of art at least once in their lifetime. In fact, Paris, the magical city that serves as the capital of France, belongs to the whole world.
Without a doubt, Paris is the birthplace, as well as the global capital, of art, fashion, gastronomy and, of course, romance. The city of art not only houses the world’s most famous galleries and museums, but has also served as the muse for many masters of art.
For those who wish to add a slice of Paris to their interior décor, here are the most exquisite paintings that have captivated many art enthusiasts since they were first created.
Rain-kissed streets
Would you like to enjoy the rain in Paris? Look no further than the “Rue de Paris, temps de pluie” by Gustave Caillebotte. Painted in 1877 by the Neo-Impressionist master, the work of art almost resembles a photograph of the urban city in the late nineteenth century. Looking north towards the Place de Dublin, the detailed view is from the eastern side of the Rue de Turin.
The Champs Elysees
The most recognised avenue in the world happens to be the Champs Elysees that is located in Paris. It is no wonder then that Paris art would be incomplete without the many interpretations of the historic avenue.
A relatively young artist, Antoine Blanchard is famous for his Parisian street scenes, particularly those of the olden days that he used to reproduce using old postcards. Blanchard, who died in 1988, has recreated Avenue de Champs Elysees in different seasons, with the Arc De Triomphe in the background.
The same street has been painted by Georges Stein, a little-known artist of the 19th and early 20th century and Edouard Leon Cortes as well.
Poetry in painting
Nothing can be more beautiful than conjuring poetry through colours. Post-Impressionist artist, Edouard Henri Leon Cortes, who was considered the ‘Parisian poet in painting,’ is well-known for his wide repertoire of Paris cityscapes. His works have depicted the city of Paris in different weather conditions as well as during different times of the day.
His pictures that are almost odes written to the beauty of Paris, include various monuments of the city. Cortes’s “Porte Saint Denis, Winter” is an oil painting of the monument, Porte de Saint Denis and is one of the most famous Post-Impressionist works. Created in 1930’s, the medieval arch signifying triumph is seen on an early winter evening.
Boulevard Beaumarchais with the July Column in the distance is another oil artwork by Cortes that depicts the historic July Column or the Colonne de Juillet.
Self-taught genius
Create a style statement in your interior décor with beautiful oils by the French Romantic artist Louis Marie De Schryver. Mostly self-taught, the artist is renowned for his spontaneous and brilliant depiction of the streets of Paris.
He has brought to life flower sellers and their customers in different poses and in different parts of the city. “Avenue de L’Opera, Paris” (1891), “Marie de La Marchande des Fleures” (1895), “The Flower Seller” (1898) and “A Flower Seller Near the Arc D’Triomphe” (1897) are all depictions of everyday scenes in the vibrant city. While everyday scenes of Paris were not new themes for artists, Schryver explored the lives of the high society class through his works.
A century later, his paintings that have a distinct touch of realism are still popular and a throwback to a bygone era.
Boulevard Des Capucines by Claude Monet
Would you like to gaze upon a work by one of the French virtuosos, Claude Monet? “The Boulevard des Capucines” is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist, which was created in 1873.
The work had been part of the historic Impressionist painting exhibition, the first of its kind that had been held in April 1874.
One of the four grand boulevards in Paris, the painting depicts a view from the famous photographer- Nadar’s apartment at No. 35.
The Boulevard Montmartre at Night
Another talented artist who brought out a series of paintings centred around boulevards is known for his rich contributions to both the Impressionist as well as Post-Impressionist periods in art. The Danish-French artist, Camille Pissarro is known for his evocative depictions of the boulevard of Montmartre at different periods of time, covering different seasons as well different hours of the day.
Depicting the nightlife of Paris is “The Boulevard Montmartre at Night”, that was created in 1878. It is a perfect impression of the journey of modernisation of the city, led by the restructuring of the city by Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann.
Do check out more paintings of Paris at and buy the classic vignettes of Parisian streets from an enviable collection of authentic oil painting reproductions.
Image credit at the very top of the article: anamejia18/Bigstock.com
