The Opening of Boulevard Haussmann
1926
Ferdinand Boberg captures the chaotic beauty of Paris under construction in this lively 1926 sketch. Instead of a polished postcard view, we see the gritty reality of the Boulevard Haussmann being carved through the city, complete with wooden barricades, towering scaffolding, and crowds of onlookers. A giant advertisement for 'Eau de Botot' looms over the scene, reminding us that even amidst the dust and demolition, Parisian commerce never stops. It's a fantastic snapshot of urban transformation, showing the messy middle stage before the grand boulevard emerged.