Paris School (1920s) - Paris: The Pont-neuf Under The Snow

- Oil on canvas. - On the occasion of the arrival of winter 2025, we are pleased to present at Galerie Montbaron this 1929 painting, soon to be a hundred years old, by the French painter Letellier. The work, which captures Parisian life at a time of unrest, shows a bustling traffic jam of trams, cars and buses crossing the iconic Pont Neuf in Paris on a snowy day. This scene, in its characteristic impressionist style, reflects the vibrant urban activity and the contrast between the chaos of traffic and the serenity of the city under the snow. Letellier's technique is resolutely disjointed, with loose, rapid brushstrokes that give a sense of immediacy and movement. The congested traffic is depicted in a fragmented manner; the almost abstract figures of the vehicles glide across the canvas with frenetic energy. The trams, cars and buses seem to merge, their forms barely defined by vigorous lines that dissolve into the distance, suggesting the frenetic pace of the city without falling into the technical precision of a more realist style. The contrast between the hustle and bustle of the traffic and the snowy landscape is remarkable. The snow falls gently on the scene, covering the bridge and streets, and Letellier depicts it in cool tones of white, blue and grey, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere. However, the snow is not limited to being a mere decorative background; rather, it is a dynamic element that intensifies the chaos of the traffic, as the painter uses the reflections of the snow on the pavement and the glare of the vehicle headlights to accentuate the liveliness and tension of the scene. The composition is imbued with a sense of constant movement. The figures of the passers-by and the vehicles, although not very detailed, seem to be in constant motion, almost as if caught in a frozen moment, suspended in time. The vibrant color palette, with touches of silver and yellow reflecting the lights of cars and trams, contrasts with the dominant grays and blues of the scene, creating a visual tension that reflects the bustle and dynamism of the city. Despite the speed with which Letellier executes the scene, the work exudes a sense of depth. The blurred outlines of the Pont Neuf, the thick fog of snow, and the shadows of buildings in the distance combine to create a horizon that seems to stretch into the unattainable, while the perspective is distorted, capturing not only the physical space but also the sense of a feverish Paris saturated with life. This painting, although driven by the dizzying speed of traffic, is not only a representation of modern urban life, but also a testimony to the tensions between the tradition of the monumental city and the emergence of a new era of accelerated movement, reflected in the murky, dense atmosphere of snow. With his impressionistic mastery, Letellier immortalizes a fleeting moment, where urban bustle and the cold of the snow meet in a dance of colors and shapes that explores the vibrant life of Paris in 1929. - Dimensions of the unframed image: 81 x 65 cm / 114 x 98 cm with sumptuous antique frame.