Le boulevard Montmartre, la nuit, devant le théâtre des Variétés

Le boulevard Montmartre, la nuit, devant le théâtre des Variétés (1885) by Jean Béraud is the nocturnal counterpart to his daytime boulevard painting — the same theatrical facade seen in the evening, lit by gas lamps and the warm light spilling from the theater entrance. Béraud was unusual among French painters in his systematic documentation of Paris at night, capturing the particular quality of gas-lit streets, cafés, and theaters that characterized modern Parisian nightlife. The Théâtre des Variétés in evening mode — with its arriving audience and the illuminated facade — captured the glamour and mobility of Third Republic entertainment culture. The work is in the Musée Carnavalet.

The nocturnal street scene uses the warm artificial light of gas lamps and theater illumination against the deep blue of the evening sky to create a characteristically Parisian nocturnal atmosphere. Béraud handles the complex lighting situation with skill, differentiating the various light sources and their effects on figures and facades. The contrast of artificial warmth and cool darkness is central to the composition's mood.