A sea of light on the Champs-Élysées by Geert Van Baelen

The painting brings the Champs-Élysées to life as a sea of light and colour. In the distance rises the Arc de Triomphe, stately and timeless, bathed in a golden glow that symbolises the history of Paris. From this beacon, the famous boulevard winds forward, full of cars, buses and endless rows of lights that combine to form a pulsating stream.

The brushstrokes, coarse and expressive, are reminiscent of the breath of the city itself: fast, rhythmic and lively. Yellow and red of street lamps and brake lights mingle with deep blue and emerald green, creating a play of contrasts that makes the crowds not only visible but almost audible. The wet rained asphalt reflects this colour spectacle, as if the city has laid down its own starry sky at the feet of Parisians.

Yet, amid all this bustle, there is also a certain harmony. The painting shows not only chaos, but also the beauty of coming together: thousands of people, each with their own destination, forming one big moving whole. The Champs-Élysées thus becomes a symbol of Paris itself: a city that never stands still, constantly surrounding its visitors with energy, beauty and the promise of adventure.