Seeking a Painting

September 11, 2009 7:44 PM

My grandmother had a painting hanging in her bedroom for many years, and I'd like to find a print of it. Hoping that someone here can identify it for me.

This was a scene of New York, around the turn of the century. Featured prominently in the background is the Flatiron Building. In the foreground of the painting is a couple crossing in the street, dressed in black, arm in arm. The man is wearing a top hat and suit, and the woman is dressed in a full black dress. I think there may be a carriage on the street behind them.

My grandmother passed away last spring, and while listening to Debussy's Claire De Lune (her favorite song) today, I flashed back to sitting in her room, staring at that painting, while listening to her play downstairs on her baby grand piano. When I worked in New York City, this song haunted me, and it's all tied up into my feelings for my grandmother, this painting, and this song.

Thank you, ahead of time, for helping out.

posted by thanotopsis to media & arts (5 comments total)

Searching Google for "flatiron painting" brought up this question which had this painting as a best answer. I know it's not the Flatiron Building but the rest of the description matches.
posted by beandip at 8:06 PM on September 11

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Street,_Rainy_Day
posted by macadamiaranch at 8:07 PM on September 11

Fantastic, bean, thank you.
posted by thanotopsis at 8:07 PM on September 11

Coincidentally, the painting is usually housed at the Art Institute of Chicago and can be viewed there. If you've never seen a Caillebotte up close it's pretty amazing (that particular one is huge).
posted by mrmojoflying at 8:16 PM on September 11

If you want an insanely beautiful version of Claire De Lune, check out David Oistraikh. Maybe the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.
posted by sully75 at 5:22 AM on September 12