Rainy Day

“Paris Street; Rainy Day” is set at an intersection near the Gare Saint-Lazare and people are seen walking across the street. Caillebotte paints out of focus figures and buildings to show that they are farther away; it shows his interest in photography. The piece is another example of his paintings of urban life, similar to “The Floor Scrapers”.

In the painting, Caillebotte uses muted yellows, blues, reds, and grays to depict a dreary day of rain. The man and woman in the center of the painting are wealthy; the man wears a top hat and a tuxedo. The woman wears a nice dress, which she is holding to keep it from getting wet, a coat and pearl earrings, her hair up in a neat bun. The woman has her arm linked with the man’s; they appear as if they are a married couple. The man, with his right hand in his pocket, seems to be casually strolling to dinner with his wife, in no hurry at all. The man has a somewhat somber expression while there is a small smile appearing on his wife’s face; perhaps they are observing a scene or another person across the street. It could also show the story of the woman sneaking a glance at the man while he looks away, excited to be with him. The two women to the left of the man’s head in dresses and the men in suits and overcoats suggest that most people in the area are well off. It is almost as if the rain has stopped and the pedestrians are still holding umbrellas because they do not want to be hit with water dripping from a building or mist still in the air. Caillebotte paints a very realistic picture; the man crossing the street’s shadow can be seen in the wet cobblestone street; the shadow of the lamp post falls across the sidewalk.

"Gustave Caillebotte - Jour de pluie à Paris." N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov 2010.