L'Averse (The Shower)

Félix Vallotton

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a rainy street scene. The image depicts a bustling urban environment where horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians dominate the streets. The illustration is rendered in strong black and white contrast, capturing the essence of an active city street under the pouring rain. The figures, using umbrellas, seem to be struggling against the rain and wind. In the background, outlines of buildings and trees provide a sense of depth, while the rain is illustrated with diagonal lines suggesting its direction. This detailed depiction gives the viewer a vivid sense of the weather's impact on city life, emphasizing the resilience and motion of the scene.