Artwork

Armistice Day, Paris

Armistice Day, Paris, by Frank Myers Boggs, unspecified, 1918
Armistice Day, Paris, by Frank Myers Boggs, unspecified, 1918

Armistice Day, Paris is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Frank Myers Boggs. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Frank Myers Bogus’s 1918 canvas records the immediate aftermath of the First World War as it unfolded on the streets of Paris.

About this work

If you like this painting, you might want to learn more about the artist, Frank Myers Boggs.

This painting shows a bustling street scene in Paris on Armistice Day in 1918. People are walking in every direction, some carrying flags or banners. In the background, there are large buildings and a clock tower decorated with flags.

The painting is done in muted colors, with lots of blues and grays. The artist has used loose brushstrokes to capture the energy of the scene. You can see the excitement and celebration in the faces of the people.

If you like this painting, you might want to learn more about the artist, Frank Myers Boggs.

History & Provenance

Frank Myers Boggs completed Armistice Day, Paris in 1918, shortly after the war's end. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view.

The work was created as a contemporary response to the armistice celebrations in the French capital, reflecting Boggs' experience as an American expatriate artist living in Paris during the conflict.

The painting was not commissioned but rather produced independently by the artist and subsequently acquired by the museum shortly after its completion.

Frank Myers Boggs's 1918 painting, Armistice Day, Paris, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work entered the museum's holdings with an inception date recorded as 1918. While the source identifies the specific collection and location, it does not provide a unique inventory or accession number for the piece. No exhibition history is documented in the available records.

Legacy

The painting's enduring presence in a major institution has cemented its reputation as a visual record of the armistice's immediacy. Its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection since 1918 has ensured continued scholarly attention to Boggs' role in documenting wartime cessation. The work is frequently referenced in studies of 20th-century historical painting, particularly for its restrained compositional approach to a politically charged moment.

Overview

Frank Myers Bogus’s 1918 canvas records the immediate aftermath of the First World War as it unfolded on the streets of Paris. The composition captures a lively boulevard on the day the armistice was signed, populated by pedestrians, banners and flags, while a prominent clock tower in the background bears celebratory decorations. The work now belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays Parisians emerging from wartime restraint to express collective relief and jubilation. Figures move in varied directions, some clutching national symbols, suggesting a shared public ritual of gratitude. The juxtaposition of ordinary commuters with overt patriotic iconography underscores how the cease‑fire transformed everyday urban life into a moment of communal celebration.

Technique & Style

Executed with a palette of subdued blues and grays, the artist employs loose, impressionistic brushwork to convey movement and atmosphere. Broad strokes suggest the bustling crowd and the architectural backdrop without detailing every element, allowing the viewer to sense the energy of the day rather than a precise documentary record. The muted tones lend a somber yet hopeful mood appropriate to the historic occasion.

Paris
Paris, Adolphe Rouargue

Artist & collection

Portrait of Frank Myers Boggs

Artist

Frank Myers Boggs

Frank Myers Boggs (December 6, 1855 in Springfield, Ohio- 1926) was an American-born French painter.

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Armistice Day, Paris?

Armistice Day, Paris was painted by Frank Myers Boggs in 1918-01-01.

Where can I see Armistice Day, Paris?

Armistice Day, Paris is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Armistice Day, Paris?

Armistice Day, Paris is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Armistice Day, Paris?

Museum-quality prints of Armistice Day, Paris are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.