Artwork
Street Scene in Paris (Coin de rue à Paris)
Street Scene in Paris (Coin de rue à Paris) is a gouache painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Félix Vallotton. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed on cardboard, the piece freezes a transient interaction, offering a visual record of the era's street culture without overt allegorical embellishment.
Félix Vallotton's 1898 gouache, Street Scene in Paris, captures a candid urban moment on a Parisian street. The composition depicts a man, a woman, a dog, and a carriage navigating the thoroughfare, presenting a slice of daily life in late 19th-century France. While the work functions as a straightforward genre scene, it reflects the artist's interest in the social dynamics and atmosphere of the city.
The inclusion of specific figures alongside the carriage suggests a narrative of movement and coexistence within the public sphere. Executed on cardboard, the piece freezes a transient interaction, offering a visual record of the era's street culture without overt allegorical embellishment.
History & Provenance
Félix Vallotton executed Street Scene in Paris (also known as Coin de rue à Paris) in 1898. The artist created this work using gouache on cardboard. At some point following its completion, the painting entered the collection of Robert Lehman.
The work is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the institution's holdings.
Street Scene in Paris (Coin de rue à Paris), a gouache on cardboard executed by Félix Vallotton in 1898, is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work belongs to the Robert Lehman Collection, as indicated by its provenance data. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Legacy
Street Scene in Paris (Coin de rue à Paris) by Félix Vallotton, executed in gouache in 1898, entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Robert Lehman collection, ensuring its preservation and scholarly access. The painting's precise rendering of a bustling Parisian intersection, featuring a woman, a man, a dog, and a carriage, has been cited in studies of Vallotton's urban genre works and contributes to the broader understanding of late-19th-century French visual culture. Its inclusion in the museum's holdings has reinforced Vallotton's reputation as a chronicler of contemporary city life.
Overview
Street Scene in Paris (Coin de rue à Paris) is a gouache painting that captures a dynamic urban moment. The composition features a bustling Parisian street rendered with vibrant, flat colors, presenting a lively snapshot of daily life. The artist employs a direct and energetic approach, emphasizing movement and atmosphere over precise detail.
Technique & Style
Executed in gouache, the artwork is characterized by its bold, flat application of color. The palette features striking reds, greens, and yellows that contrast with the sandy tones of the ground. The artist's technique is quick and sketchy, utilizing thick paint to create a sense of immediacy. This approach prioritizes the overall impression and vitality of the scene rather than meticulous representation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Félix Édouard Vallotton (French: ; December 28, 1865 – December 29, 1925) was a Swiss and French painter and printmaker associated with the group of artists known as Les Nabis.
- La Goulue and Her Sister
Street in Montmartre, Paris
Torikauppaa Rautatientorilla
Park
The Fancy Goods Store
Programme de théâtre (recto); Etudes (verso)
L'Averse (The Shower)
Alfred la Guigne
The Square
City Square
At the Moulin Rouge, la Goulue and Her Sister (Au Moulin Rouge, la Goulue et sa soeur))
Watching the Crowd