Art Reflections

Art Travel Guide

Exploring Paris in Art: Unique Perspective on the City of Lights by the World’s Greatest Masters

Paris is one of the most iconic cities in the world, with the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and many other well-known landmarks. It takes a special skill for an artist to give us a view of such a city that we have never seen before. Since each artist has a unique technique and style, it can sometimes be nice to enjoy a common scene but in a different way. This is why we put together Paris in Art, these are paintings that we think present the city of Paris in an unexpected way we think you will enjoy.

Juan Gris-Maisons a Paris (Houses in Paris)

Maisons a Paris (Houses in Paris) is a cubist painting by Spanish artist, Juan Gris. The original is on display at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. At first Gris painted in the self-coined style of Analytical Cubism but then converted to Synthetic Cubism. Unlike Picasso and Braque, Gris painted with bright harmonious colors. It is a unique and abstract view of Paris that you will love to interpret.

Jean Francois Raffaelli-Notre-Dame de Paris

See Notre Dame as you’ve never seen it before with Notre-Dame de Paris by Jean-Francois Raffaelli. It features the east side of the famed French cathedral on the Ile de la Cité, but the gothic architecture is only a backdrop to the people on the streets. Born in Paris, Raffaelli  was one of the most popular French realists of the late 19th century.

Childe Hassam-Summer Evening, Paris

Summer Evening, Paris painted by Frederick Childe Hassam, was inspired by the time that Hassam spent living in Paris for 3 years. Hassam was an American Impressionist painter who introduced America to the Impressionist movement. Hassam’s most promoted pieces include flags from World War I, some of which hang in the White House today. This view of Paris in the evening uses imaginative colors and shapes.

Vincent Van Gogh-View of Paris from Vincent’s Room in the Rue Lepic

View of Paris from Vincent’s Room in the Rue Lepic by Vincent van Gogh was painted while the artist was living with his brother. Vincent Van Gogh’s restless spirit and depressive mental state fired his artistic work with great joy and, sadly, equally great despair. Known as a prolific Post-Impressionist, he produced many paintings that were heavily biographical.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir-Church of the Holy Trinity in Paris

Church of the Holy Trinity in Paris by Pierre-Auguste Renoir give the viewer a bird’s eye view of a beautiful church among a bustling city. Renoir’s Impressionist technique had reached its peak and brought this scene to life. It’s easy to identify his signature use of colors and sensual movement of light. He spent weeks and sometimes months perfecting his paintings.

We hope that this shows you the wide range of diversity among artists and their perspectives on the city of Light. It’s amazing how a city such as Paris can be viewed in so many different ways, and we just scratched the surface.

Reflecting on how Paris, once the unrivaled epicenter of the international art scene, birthed the avant-garde movement with luminaries like Picasso, Modigliani, and Matisse, brings a profound appreciation for its rich artistic heritage. Today, while Paris shares the spotlight with other art centers globally, it’s undergoing a vibrant cultural renaissance, reaffirming its stature on the contemporary art map. Paris continues to inspire and evolve, showcasing the enduring legacy of its artistic brilliance through the ages.