Paris Street, Rainy Day

Painted in 1877, Gustave Caillebotte's "Paris Street; Rainy Day" (French: Rue de Paris, temps de pluie) is one of his most famous painting and is a highlight of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection, where it is currently displayed.

The painting is a masterpiece of the Impressionist movement and stands out from other Impressionist works due to its precise, almost photographic style. Caillebotte used sharp lines and a realistic perspective to paint this scene set near the Place de l'Europe. a
It depicts figures dressed in fashionable, late 19th-century attire, with many holding umbrellas.

These photos were taken at the current exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago titled "Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World.

This photo shows a preparatory drawing, likely a study for a figure in his famous painting, "Paris Street; Rainy Day." The multiple, disembodied hands surrounding the figure are the artist's quick sketches exploring different positions for the umbrella and hands, showing his process as he worked out the composition. This drawing is a fascinating glimpse into how Caillebotte meticulously planned his famous, seemingly spontaneous, urban scenes.
​The drawing is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, the same museum that houses the final painting.

The text describes several studies for the painting titled "Paris Street; Rainy Day" by Gustave Caillebotte. All of the studies were created around the year 1877. They are primarily made with pencil on paper,.
​The studies focus on isolated figures, such as:
​Man Under an Umbrella and Woman Seen from Behind
​Two Men Under Their Umbrellas, Crossing Paths
​Man Walking Under an Umbrella, Facing Right
​Man Under an Umbrella, Facing Forward, and Studies of His Hands
​Man Under an Umbrella, Facing Right
​Man with Umbrella, Facing Left, and Man Lighting His Pipe Under an Umbrella
​The description also notes that Caillebotte created these studies to accurately portray people as they "hustled about with umbrellas" and that he may have been inspired by the medium of photography to capture figures in motion as accurately as possible.

The painting in this photo is "Le Pont de l'Europe" by Gustave Caillebotte.
​It was painted in 1876 and depicts a scene on the Pont de l'Europe, a bridge that spans the railway tracks leading to the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. The painting is a notable example of Impressionism, but the composition is influenced by photography.

The painting is "Man on a Balcony, Boulevard Haussmann" by Gustave Caillebotte. painted in 1880. This work is another example of Caillebotte's unique approach to Impressionism, blending a loose, Impressionist style in the background with a detailed and solid figure in the foreground. The painting depicts a man, looking out over a bustling Parisian boulevard from a balcony. The composition uses a strong diagonal line to create depth.

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All photos are from my family albums and information is from the Art Institute of Chicago.