Late in the Evening

"Late in the Evening"
Rue Cler in the 7th, Paris
30cm x 42cm
Graphite on Arches paper

You’re in Paris. Just for a visit.
It’s 11.37pm on a Thursday night. You were only going to have one drink, but then you met a bunch of locals and got talking.
After drink number six, you all step out and start wandering the city.
You end up standing here, looking down this street at Rue Cler.
The air is damp. There’s cobblestones under your feet. Music is coming from somewhere nearby. Someone probably offered you a cigarette, and you probably accepted it, because what the hell, you’re drunk in Paris.

Someone special to me used to live on this street in Paris, in the Hotel Leveque. You can see it high on the left of the drawing.

I’ve always found city lights at night exciting. Something about how this famous market looks at night made me think of the excited glow you might feel walking here after dinner one night, after the rain has fallen, while you and your new friends are slightly drunk. Or really drunk.

Go ahead. It’s your night.