Gustave Caillebotte
A lawyer, an engineer, and an artist, Gustave Caillebotte (French, 1848–1894) was a man of wide-ranging interests. His fascinations with photography, urban planning, country living, and the Parisian bourgeoisie were often reflected in his art. Born into an upper-class family, he painted largely for pleasure and is perhaps better known as an art patron than as an artist. He was involved with the Impressionist movement and showed paintings in exhibitions held from 1877 to 1882. (Caillebotte was a great friend of Claude Monet, with whom he shared a passion for gardening, water, and boats.) Caillebotte’s signature works reveal modern compositions with strong perspective, an elevated point of view, and linear brushwork. His painting
Paris Street; Rainy Day is widely considered his masterpiece.