"Rainy Night in Paris, Kissing in the Rain" 1908 
Frédéric Levé (1877-1968)
Oil on canvas
Signature notated on stretcher bars on reverse
25 5/8 x 21 1/4  (32 7/8 x 28 1/3 frame) inches
 
As stunning depiction of a passionate kiss in Paris on a rainy evening. 
Frédéric Louis LEVÉ Frédéric Louis Levé (1877-1968), born in Paris, He was an extremely talented painter and printmaker, exploring a wide variety of subject matters ranging from portraits to cityscapes, to peasant life in the country. His broad brushstrokes and strong shadows tip their hat to realism but also suggest exposure to some of the more abstract artistic movements, such as Cubism and Fauvism. 
 
Iconic images of Notre-Dame, European canals and markets are found within Levé’s raisonné, but there is something extra in each of them. Each seems to carry an extra dimension that is hard to place but adds to their overall impression. Embracing a classical into an Orientalist flair, Levé’s subjects create a serene and intimate encounter for the viewer.
 
Note: A very similar color etching was exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1908 (no. 4490: "Wet Love"). It is therefore a painting preparing the engraving exhibited at the 1908 Salon.