Provenance

Ritchies, auction, Toronto, 7 December 2006, lot 3031
Private Collection

Edouard Léon Cortès (1882–1969) was a celebrated French Post-Impressionist painter renowned for his atmospheric views of Paris, capturing the city’s bustling boulevards, lamplit evenings, and ever-changing weather with remarkable charm and clarity. Born in Lagny-sur-Marne into a family of artists, Cortès studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and quickly gained recognition for his ability to portray urban life with both lyricism and precision. His signature Paris Street scenes—depicting iconic locales such as the Place de l’Opéra, the Champs-Élysées, and the Porte Saint-Denis—became highly sought after for their evocative blend of movement, light, and seasonal nuance.

Over a prolific career spanning more than six decades, Cortès exhibited widely, earned critical acclaim, and established himself as one of the leading painters of the École de Paris, leaving behind a body of work that remains beloved by collectors around the world.