French Street Scene by Edouard Cortes, 15x18, Oil on Canvas, Signed Lower Right. Cortès was born in Lagny, France on April 26, 1882. During his early lifetime, Paris was the center of the art world. Artist from across the globe traveled there to study and paint it’s beautiful countryside and cities; views of Paris, or as it became known ‘the City of Lights’. Specializing in Paris street scenes, each of these artists captured the city during its heyday and continued with these scenes well into the 20th century. Édouard was the son of Antonio Cortès, the Spanish Court painter, who was himself the son of the artisan André Cortès. Antonio had three children - Édouard, Henri and Jeanne - and while all had artistic talent, it was Édouard who had the passion. Antonio began teaching Édouard at an early age and enrolled him in a private elementary school where he continued his schooling until the age of 13. From this point on he devoted his life to art, working and studying with both his father and older brother. In 1899, at the age of 16, he exhibited his first work at the Société des Artistes Français entitled La Labour. The work was well received by the critics and the public - helping establish Édouard’s favorable reputation in Paris.It was at the turn of the century, c.1900, that he began to paint the scenes that he would become most famous for Paris’ streets and monuments. One of the more prolific artists of his time, Cortès found his niche and stayed with it. His views of Paris are among the most telling and beautiful images of this genre; capturing the city during all it’s seasons for more than 60 years. By the mid 1920’s, Édouard and his family moved back to Lagny (in Normandy) and he began painting scenes of country life - including landscapes, interior scenes and still lives. He was an active member of the Union des Beaux-Arts de Lagny and was the Unions first president. Their inaugural exhibition was held in 1927 and Cortès continued to exhibit there until the late 1930’s. During this period he received many awards, gained great notoriety and was a frequent exhibitor at the exhibition halls in Paris, including the Salon d’Automne, Salon d’Hiver, Salon de la Société Nationale de l’Horticulture and Salon des Indépendants. During the years of World War II, Cortès and his family spent their time in Cormelles-le-Royal (in Normandy) in an attempt to remove themselves from the harsh realities of war. By the early 1950’s he had relocated to Lagny, where he would remain for the rest of his life. Cortès’ beautiful depictions of Paris were always in demand and he continued to paint them until his death in 1969.