Perhaps the most significant goal of “Parisian Views” is for students to learn to see the beauty and recognize the art that surrounds them. At the beginning of the semester, this was just a pleasant benefit of the course. We were all in New York City together and by sharing pictures through Instagram, we were able to share the art and energy of the city with our peers. But over the past month, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, we were unable to meet in person and times were bleaker than they had been in the past. Sharing pictures became a way to uplift ourselves and others. As Parisian artists discovered in the nineteenth century, images can capture light and moments in a truly unique way.

This photo, originally shared with the hashtag #capturelight, captures many of the feelings of our difficult situation and exemplifies what it means to find the art around you. It was taken during one of our Zoom classes while we were taking a short break to take pictures of our surroundings. The rusted fence in the background, which blends with the fallen leaves, symbolizes the hardships and limitations which we have self-imposed. We are restrained by our isolation and the need to protect ourselves and those around us. The daffodil in the center of the picture is the “light.” We must find inspiration around us and not allow ourselves to be fully suppressed by our conditions. This is what “Parisian Views” is about.