Les Grands Boulevards (Café Américain) by Jean Béraud

Jean Béraud
1849-1935 | French

Les Grands Boulevards (Café Américain)

Signed "Jean Béraud" (lower left)
Oil on panel

Jean Béraud’s Les Grands Boulevards (Café Américain) exquisitely captures the vibrant energy of Belle Époque Paris. The scene unfolds on a rain-soaked boulevard where elegantly dressed figures traverse glistening cobblestones, and a young woman, lifting her hem to avoid the damp pavement, draws the admiring gaze of a gentleman. At the heart of the composition stands the famed Café Américain, a gathering place for intellectuals and artists, framed by the ever-present Colonne Morris adorned with lively advertisements. Béraud’s remarkable ability to blend meticulous detail with atmospheric brilliance elevates this work into a breathtaking portrayal of Parisian grandeur.

Béraud’s command of light and movement is unparalleled, evident in the soft glow of gas lamps reflecting off wet streets and the nuanced play of textures throughout the scene. The rich palette of autumnal hues contrasts with the delicate pastels of the sky, emphasizing the bustling yet intimate nature of the boulevard. The architectural precision of the Café Américain and the minute rendering of the Colonne Morris’s theatrical posters provide an exceptional glimpse into the cultural life of the period, making this painting a historical and aesthetic triumph. See a complete list of the advertisements below.

Jean Béraud was one of the foremost chroniclers of Parisian life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Saint Petersburg to French parents, he moved to Paris and trained at the École des Beaux-Arts. His work uniquely bridges the academic precision of salon painting with the fleeting spontaneity of Impressionism. Through his masterful compositions, Béraud documented a rapidly changing Paris, preserving its social and artistic vibrancy for the modern age. Today, his works reside in major institutions, including the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Painted circa 1897

Canvas: 13 1/2" high x 20" wide (34.29 x 50.80 cm)
Frame: 21" high x 27 1/2" wide x 2 1/2" deep (53.34 x 69.85 x 6.35 cm)

View the Dossier

Literature:
This work will be included in the Supplement to the critical catalog of the work of Jean Béraud being prepared by Patrick Offesntadt and the Wildenstein Institute.

Provenance:
Margaret Thomspon Biddle
Inheritors of Biddle’s Estate
Private Collection, London
M.S. Rau, New Orleans 

Guide to the Advertisements on the Colonne Morris:
Rothomagö – A Féerie Spectacle in the Théâtre du Châtelet. Féeries were elaborate productions featuring advanced stagecraft, fantastical plots and stunning visual effects.
Manon – Opera by Jules Massenet in the Opéra-Comique. Manon became one of the most beloved operas of the Belle Époque, celebrated for its lush score and dramatic storytelling.
Bob Walter – Serpentine Dancer and Performer in the Théâtre La Bodinière. Bob Walter captivated audiences with her serpentine dance, transforming her silhouette into various forms through flowing costumes and colored light projections.
Paulus (Jean-Paul Habans) – Café-Concert Performer. In 1897, Paulus starred in films by George Méliès, where he sang behind a projected image, creating an early illusion of synchronized sound and cinema. His lively performances made him a staple of Parisian entertainment.