Outer boulevards
1895 - 1905
Frédéric Houbron captures the fleeting energy of Paris's outer boulevards in this rapid sketch, likely drawn from life around 1900. The loose, scribbly lines perfectly convey the movement of well-dressed pedestrians strolling past bare trees and looming buildings, feeling less like a finished portrait and more like a visual note taken in a hurry. It’s a charming snapshot of urban life, capturing the atmosphere of the 'Boulevards extérieurs' before the modern era fully took over. A small stamp in the corner reveals it once belonged to the 'Milnet Cabinet,' a nod to the private collectors who preserved these fleeting moments.