City of Lights, Shadows of Thoughts collection — 16 Artworks in 2 Series by Arnaud Quercy

Paris is the city I call home, and yet, it never ceases to surprise. Beneath its grand façades and iconic landmarks lies a world of contrasts—a place where life unfolds in quiet pauses and sudden bursts, in light that illuminates and shadows that conceal. This collection is my invitation to experience a side of Paris that whispers rather than shouts, a place where stillness and motion, introspection and dynamism, coexist in delicate balance.

In The Lady at the Café (Gouache on Paper, 2023), I explore a quintessentially Parisian moment: the quiet solitude of a café. She sits with her thoughts, coffee in hand, as the city hums around her. There is something timeless in this scene, a suspension of time and space that only Paris can offer. In contrast, Parisian Thoroughfare (Acrylic on Paper, 2022) captures the city’s pulse—the bustling streets, the layered architecture, and the organized chaos of a metropolis in perpetual motion.

Yet, there is an intimacy in Paris, a personal space carved within its crowded landscape. The Girl on the Bus (Charcoal on Paper, 2022) offers a glimpse into this solitary reflection, where one can feel utterly alone amidst the city’s rhythm. For a moment, the world is reduced to that quiet gaze out the window, a single frame of solitude within the expanse of urban life.

Paris also offers spaces for pause, where life breathes gently. In Reader of Parc Monceau (Oil on Canvas, 2024), a figure sits alone, enveloped in the serenity of green—a refuge from the city’s relentless pace. These quieter corners, hidden among the trees and tucked away from the boulevards, hold Paris’ soul as much as its bustling streets.

There is a playful, whimsical Paris as well, found in places where joy fills the air. Playgrounds - Jardin d’Acclimatation (Watercolor, 2024) captures this energy, blending careful brushstrokes with spontaneous movement, evoking laughter and liveliness. These green spaces offer more than just scenery—they are breaths of fresh air, playful escapes from the city’s intensity.

Promenade aux jardins du Luxembourg (Acrylic and Watercolor, 2024) takes us through a deeply personal journey, revisiting a familiar place that changes with the seasons, the light, and perhaps even one’s mood. These scenes capture the gardens in their many moods, from the warmth of a summer afternoon to the cool quiet of autumn. In each piece, the shifting light reveals a new side, a reminder of the endless variety within the familiar.

With City of Lights, Shadows of Thoughts, my hope is to share Paris as a living entity, an experience more than a place. Its light brings clarity, while its shadows invite reflection. Here, every street corner and quiet bench holds potential for revelation. Through these works, I hope to convey not just Paris’ visual allure but also the thoughts, the emotions, and the quiet realizations that it stirs within those who call it home.