Lot Essay
Famous as the painter of Paris streets, Utrillo here has juxtaposed the strong diagonal planes of the buildings and streets, with the circular motif of the fountain and its surrounding trees. This canvas illustrates his ability to convey the quiet charm of the city in firmly organized compositions. The high viewpoint combined with the strict structure was probably derived from a photograph or a postcard, which Utrillo frequently used as a source for his subject matter (see ill.).