The Saint-Martin Gate
1898
Step into the bustling heart of 1898 Paris, right at the foot of the grand Porte Saint-Martin! Frédéric Houbron captures the chaotic energy of the city with horse-drawn omnibuses, fancy carriages, and crowds of pedestrians rushing past the towering triumphal arch. The loose, sketchy brushwork gives the scene a vibrant, almost cinematic feel, freezing a fleeting moment of daily life just before the automobile took over the streets. It serves as a wonderful time capsule of Parisian hustle and bustle at the turn of the century, showing us exactly how the city looked and felt over a hundred years ago.