J ean Béraud was the most celebrated observer of Parisian life during the Belle Époque, and the following five paintings, on offer in Sotheby's European Art sale on 24 May, show his optimism in an increasingly modern city. Each is an entertaining spectacle as much as it is a historical document, offering visual accounts of the earliest Bastille Day celebrations, the female workers who fought for equal rights, the rising influence of the Impressionists and the joys of living in this dynamic metropolis. In advance of the auction, click ahead to discover more about five works by the artist.
