Gustave Caillebotte, Urban Impressionist

Caillebotte's vivid representations of Parisian life bridged the gap between Realism and Impressionism during the late 1870s and early 1880s. His Paris Street: Rainy Day and Floorscrapers -- each the subject of a fascinating, extensively illustrated analysis in this book -- have become icons of the Impressionists' devotion to scenes of modern urban life.

Prepared by an international team of scholars to accompany the major 1994-95 retrospective organized by the Reunion des Musees Nationaux/Musee d'Orsay, Paris, and The Art Institute of Chicago, Gustave Caillebotte: Urban Impressionist reproduces 89 of his paintings and 28 of his drawings and studies, many of them from little-known private collections. Thoughtful essays examine both his work and his crucial role as an early patron and promoter of Impressionism. A chronology, list of exhibitions, and selected bibliography provide additional invaluable information.