Edouard Cortes 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.

Edouard was the son of Antonio Cortès – the Spanish Court painter – who was himself the son of the artisan André Cortès.  Antonio was born in Seville in 1827 and established himself as a painter of rural genre.  In 1855 he traveled to Paris for the Exposition Universelle and was drawn to the town of Lagny-sur-Marne – where he settled.  He continued to paint scenes reminiscent of Troyon, Jacque and Van Marcke.  Antonio had three children - Edouard, Henri and Jeanne - and while all had artistic talent, it was Édouard who had the passion.

Antonio began teaching Édouard at an early age and enrolled him in a private elementary school where he continued his schooling until the age of 13.   From this point on he devoted his life to art – working and studying with both his father and older brother.    In 1899, at the age of 16, he exhibited his first work at the Société des Artistes Français entitled La Labour.  The work was well received by the critics and the public - helping establish Edouard’s favorable reputation in Paris.

It was at the turn of the century, c.1900, that he began to paint the scenes that he would become most famous for – Paris’ streets and monuments.  One of the more prolific artists of his time, Cortès found his niche and stayed with it.  His views of Paris are among the most telling and beautiful images of this genre; capturing the city during all it’s seasons for more than 60 years.

Edouard married Fernande Joyeuse in 1914 and had a child – Jacqueline Simone in 1916.  Fernande died in 1918 and shortly thereafter Édouard decided to marry his sister-in-law Lucienne Joyeuse.  They settled in Paris and Edouard continued to paint views of Paris.  By the mid 1920’s, Edouard and his family moved back to Lagny (in Normandy) and he began painting scenes of country life - including landscapes, interior scenes and still lives.  He was an active member of the Union des Beaux-Arts de Lagny and was the Unions first president.   Their inaugural exhibition was held in 1927 and Cortès continued to exhibit there until the late 1930’s.

During this period he received many awards, gained great notoriety and was a frequent exhibitor at the exhibition halls in Paris, including the Salon d’Automne, Salon d’Hiver, Salon de la Société Nationale de l’Horticulture and Salon des Indépendants.

During the years of World War II, Cortès and his family spent their time in Cormelles-le-Royal (in Normandy) in an attempt to remove themselves from the harsh realities of war. By the early 1950’s he had relocated to Lagny, where he would remain for the rest of his life. 

His beautiful depictions of Paris were always in demand and he continued to paint them until his death in 1969.

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For publications featuring the works of Edouard Cortes please visit our BOOKS page.

Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Porte St. Denis, Winter Oil on canvas 19 1/2 x 25 3/4 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Opera, Cafe de la Paix Oil on canvas 10 5/8 x 13 3/4 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Les Grands Boulevards Oil on canvas 15 x 24 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Republique Oil on canvas 20 x 26 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Quai du Louvre Oil on canvas 19 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Le marché aux fleurs, Place de la Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) La Tour St. Jacques Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Porte St. Denis in Winter Oil on canvas 9 1/2 x 13 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Aux Trois Quartiers Oil on canvas 10 3/4 x 14 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) L'Arc de Triomphe Oil on canvas 10 3/4 x 14 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Boulevard de la Madeleine Oil on canvas 10 3/4 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Métro George V, Champs Élysées Oil on canvas 10 3/4 x 14 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de l’Opéra Oil on canvas 10 3/4 x 14 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Sacré Coeur Oil on canvas 15 x 21 3/4 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Arc de Triomphe Oil on canvas 9 3/4 x 13 1/4 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Boulevard des Capucines Oil on canvas 9 3/4 x 13 1/4 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Boulevard de la Madeleine Oil on canvas 18 x 25 1/2 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Porte St. Denis Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Rue de Lyon, Bastille Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Rue Royale, Madeleine Oil on canvas 15 x 24 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Bastille Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Bastille Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Pont Alexandre III Oil on canvas 15 x 24 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Rue d'Ulm, Pantheon Oil on canvas 13 1/4 x 18 1/4 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Republique Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Bouquinistes de Notre-Dame Oil on canvas 15 x 21 3/4 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Republique Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de l’Opéra Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Le Café Balthazard, Place de la Republique Oil on canvas 18 x 25 1/2 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Les Bouquinistes Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Quai du Louvre Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Quai Saint Michel Oil on canvas 15 x 21 3/4 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Marche des fleurs a la Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Marche aux fleurs, Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Les Grands Boulevards Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Fountain on Place de la Concorde Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed; also titled on the reverse	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Concorde Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Madeleine in Winter Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Champs Elysees, Lido Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Champs Élysées, Lido Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Bastille Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Porte St. Denis in the Winter Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Porte St. Martin Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Tuileries Garden Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place du Tertre, Montmartre Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Boulevard des Capucines Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Republique Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Porte St. Denis, 1905 Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Boulevard de la Madeleine Oil on canvas 9 1/4 x 13 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de l'Opera Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Porte St. Denis Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Quai du Louvre in Winter Oil on canvas 8 1/2 x 13 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Champs Elysees, Winter Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Boulevard des Capucines Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Flower Market, Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place St. Michel - Notre Dame Oil on panel 7 x 9 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) L'Opera and the Cafe de la Paix Oil on panel 6 1/4 x 8 3/4 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Pont Alexandre III Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) La Madeleine au Crépuscule vue du Boulevard Oil on panel 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place Vendôme, Soir, Paris Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Rue de la Paix, Place Vendôme Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) L’Arc de Triomphe, Paris Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Rue Royale, Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place St. Michel, Notre Dame Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Tuileries Garden Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Fountain on Place de la Concorde Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed; also titled on the reverse
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Quai du Louvre, sous la neige Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de la Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Le Quai de la Tournelle, Notre Dame Oil on canvas 9 1/2 x 13 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Place de l'Etoile, Arc de Triomphe Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Rue Royale, Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed; also numbered on the reverse	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Boulevard de la Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Boulevard de la Madeleine Oil on canvas 18 1/4 x 25 3/4 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Flower Market, Madeleine Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed	Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Café de la Paix, Opera Oil on canvas 13 x 18 inches Signed
Edouard Leon Cortes (1882 - 1969) Porte St. Denis Oil on canvas 8 3/4 x 13 inches Signed