Édouard Leon Cortès is widely known for his Impressionistic renderings of Parisian promenades and rustic French hamlets. The son and pupil of Spanish painter Antonio Cortès, his influences included Barbizon painters Constant Troyon and Henri Harpignies.
Establishing a name for himself early on in his long career, Cortès first exhibited a painting he called La Labour at the Société des Artistes Français when he was still in his late teens. He found success among art critics as well as the public and earned renown in France. Cortès went on to study at École des Beaux-Arts.
As World War I gained steam, Cortès willingly joined the French military effort even though he was a pacifist. The artist spent time sketching enemy positions on the front lines, and this may have deepened his anti-war resolve. When he was able to return to his easel, Cortès desired solely to paint peaceful scenes of France’s capital city.
Later, during World War II, Cortès and his family spent time in Normandy to escape the horrors of the conflict. When asked about his depictions of horse-drawn carriages in the streets of Paris as well as outdated fashions — dresses and other garments that bore the hallmarks of pre-1930s fashion design, for example — he cited a fantasy he had about being able to “stop time” so that the Second World War wouldn’t have taken place.
A humble man, Cortès refused interviews and preferred anonymity. He remarked that his oil paintings, pastels and watercolors should speak for themselves. Cortès was prolific — he painted the streets of Paris and its well-known landmarks as well as majestic landscapes, interiors, boats and scenes that unfolded at Parisian harbors. Ten years after his death in 1969, the city of Lagny — where Cortès had spent most of his life — named a street in his honor.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of original Édouard Leon Cortès paintings.
Boulevard de la Madeleine
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in Greenville, DE
Excellent example of Cortès Paris scene. Provenance: Galerie Haussmann, Paris.Herbert Arnot, Inc., New York, New York (May 29, 1964).Country Store Gallery, Austin, Texas (February 2...
Canvas, Oil
$147,090
H 25.6 in W 36.03 in
Place de la République, Large Oil on Canvas by Edouard Léon Cortès
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in Madrid, ES
EDOUARD LÉON CORTÈS French, 1882 - 1969 PLACE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE signed "EDOUARD CORTÈS." (lower right) oil on canvas 25-3/4 x 36-1/4 inches (65 x 91.5 cm.) framed: 33-1/2 x 44-1/4 inches (85 x 112 cm.) PROVENANCE Private Collection, Chicago Edouard Léon Cortès (1882–1969) was a French post-impressionist artist of French and Spanish ancestry. He is known as "Le Poète Parisien de la Peinture" or "the Parisian Poet of Painting...
Oil, Canvas
Place De La Bastille By Edouard Léon Cortès
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in New Orleans, LA
Edouard Léon Cortès 1882-1969 French Place de la Bastille Signed “Edouard Cortès” (lower left) Oil on canvas A glowing warmth radiates from this bustling street scene by the reno...
Canvas, Oil
$168,500
H 23.5 in W 35.25 in D 2 in
Place de la Madeleine by Edouard Léon Cortès
By Edouard León Cortés 1
Located in New Orleans, LA
Edouard Léon Cortès 1882-1969 I French Place de la Madeleine Signed “Edouard Cortès” (lower right) Oil on canvas Renowned as the “Parisian Poet of Painting,” Edouard Léon Cortès e...
Canvas, Oil
Place De La Madeleine Le Soir
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in Belgravia, London, London
Oil on canvas Canvas size: 24 x 36 inches Framed size: 32.5 x 44.5 inches Signed lower right
Canvas, Oil
Edouard Léon Cortès, Paris Evening
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in Madrid, ES
EDOUARD LÉON CORTÈS French, 1882 - 1969 PARIS EVENING signed "EDOUARD CORTÈS" (lower right) oil on canvas 25-3/4 x 36-1/4 inches (65 x 91.5 cm.) framed: 31-3/4 x 42-1/2 inches (80.5 x 108 cm.) This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by "Comité Édouard CORTÈS" PROVENANCE Private Collection, France Edouard Léon Cortès (1882–1969) was a French post-impressionist artist of French and Spanish ancestry. He is known as "Le Poète Parisien de la Peinture" or "the Parisian Poet of Painting...
Oil, Canvas
$48,476
H 19 in W 24 in
Place de la Republique - Le Soir - Impressionist Landscape Oil by Edouard Cortes
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed impressionist oil on canvas landscape circa 1950 by sought after French painter Edouard Cortes. The work depicts an evening scene of the Place de la Republique square in Paris France. The ground, bare trees and buildings are covered in a dusting of white snow. The street lights are glowing and the Monument a la Republique is visible in the distance. Signature: Signed lower left Dimensions: Framed: 19"x24" Unframed: 13"x18" Provenance: International Galleries - Chicago c. 1950 This work is included in the Catalogue Raisonne of the painters work "Edouard Cortes (1882-1969) : The Complete Works" Ref: EC001317 A photo certificate of authenticity accompanies the painting Edouard Leon Cortes, the son of the painter Antonio Cortès, was sent to the front during World War I to sketch enemy positions. In civilian life, his base was in Lagny in the former studio of Cavallo-Peduzzi. Although he travelled extensively in France. Notably in Normandy, Brittany, the Champagne region and Savoy painting...
Oil, Canvas
Lumiere Du Soir Sur La Boulevard De Madeleine
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in Belgravia, London, London
Oil on canvas Canvas size: 13 x 18 inches Framed size: Signed lower right
Canvas, Oil
Avenue de Friedland, L’Arc de Triomphe
By Édouard Leon Cortès
Located in Missouri, MO
Framed Size: 21 x 26 inches *This work has been authenticated by Nicole Verdier Provenance: Johnson Gallery, Chicago IL, circa 1967/1968 Cortès was born in Lagny, France on April 26, 1882. During his early lifetime, Paris was the center of the art world. Artist from across the globe traveled there to study and paint it's beautiful countryside and cities; views of Paris, or as it became known 'the City of Lights', were in great demand by both collectors and tourists. Édouard Cortès, along with other artists like Eugene Galien-Laloue (1854-1941), Luigi Loir (1845-1916) and Jean Beraud (1849-1936) answered their call. Specializing in Paris street scenes, each of these artists captured the city during its heyday and continued with these scenes well into the 20th century.Édouard was the son of Antonio Cortès - the Spanish Court painter - who was himself the son of the artisan André Cortès...
Canvas, Oil
Place de la Republic, Paris
Located in Stratford-Upon-Avon, GB
Edouard Cortès, French (1882 – 1969) Place de la Republic, Paris Medium: Oil on canvas Framed size: 19x 24 inches Unframed size: 13.25 x 18 Inches Signature: Signed (Lower left) T...
Canvas, Oil
