The Saint-Lazare Station

What you see

From the platform we look up at the great iron and glass roof, which forms a dark triangle framing the scene. Through the opening at the far end, pale city buildings appear. At the center, a black locomotive comes toward us through the steam; another train waits on the left, and on the right there are people on the platform and a man standing on the tracks.

Steam takes over everything, in blue, lilac and white clouds that rise to the roof and blur every edge. The buildings beyond glow in yellows and creams, and the tracks are short gold and brown strokes. Look at the roof’s tie rods, thin dark lines against the sky, and at the column of blue smoke rising right in the middle.