Boulevard Montmartre: Afternoon, Sunshine is a painting created by Camille Pissarro in 1897. It is a part of a collection of thirteen pieces depicting the same scene of a street in Paris. This painting captures the beauty of the city during that time period and was painted in an Impressionist style.
Pissarro wanted to get an ideal view of Boulevard Montmartre for his painting, so he rented out a room at the Grand Hôtel de Russie. His decision paid off as the painting emits an atmosphere of leisure and reflects the diverse activities taking place along this prominent Paris street. The shadows contribute to the depth, and Pissarro’s use of bright colors make this artwork truly awe-inspiring.
This stunning piece from Pissarro was followed by another masterpiece called “Avenue de l’Opera: Morning Sunlight,” painted in 1898. Both paintings offer beautiful contrasts between lights and darks, capturing unexpected details along a popular district in Paris at different times of day. With these two artworks, Pissarro introduced scenes from modern life into art and demonstrated what it means to capture a moment in time forever.
