Les Boulevards, près de la Porte St. Denis

About this work

This sketch shows a busy Paris street scene near a big city gate. People in long coats and hats walk along a sidewalk, while others crowd around a horse-drawn carriage. Bare trees line the street, and buildings rise in the background, including a church with a tall steeple. The artist used loose, sketchy lines to capture the movement and energy of the moment. One odd detail: the artist signed it in French, with a price tag—100 francs—and a note about an edition. This suggests it might have been a print sold to many people, not just a one-off painting. If you like this style, check out Impressionism.