La Maison de refuge du Bon Pasteur, vue de la place Denfert-Rochereau. (1890)

This evocative painting by Édouard Zawiski, created in 1890, offers a unique perspective of the Maison de refuge du Bon Pasteur as seen from the vantage point of Place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris. This beautiful image captures the muted colors of a winter landscape and a serene, almost somber aura that envelops the scene.In the foreground, the viewer sees an expansive, leafless garden paired with a barren orchard that hints at the dormant life of winter. The central focus is a large building, the refuge, whose warm, red-tiled roof contrasts gently with the gray of the bleak winter sky. Rows of trees line a vacant boulevard, standing like silent sentinels guarding the quiet street.Off to the sides, other structures and distant rooftops create a layered depiction of urban life, yet there is a distinct sense of solitude and stillness, absent of the bustling city's usual vibrance. This painting not only captures an architectural scene but also invokes a contemplative look back at a Paris of the past, full of history and stories contained within its walls and empty streets.In his depiction, Zawiski uses a pale palette to convey the chill of winter, while precise brushstrokes imbue a texture that almost allows the viewers to feel the crisp air. "La Maison de refuge du Bon Pasteur" offers a profound connection to a moment frozen in time, reflecting the artistic richness and historical depth of Paris in the late 19th century.