Children with a toy seller on the Quai du Louvre (unknown date), by Jean Béraud

Jean Béraud (1849–1935) was a French painter best known for his depictions of Parisian life during the Belle Époque. He was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, but moved to Paris with his family as a child. Béraud studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and became a successful artist, exhibiting his work at the Salon and other prestigious venues. His paintings often depicted scenes of everyday life in Paris, such as cafés, theatres and boulevards, and he was particularly adept at capturing the fashions and social customs of the time. Béraud's work is characterised by his attention to detail, his use of bright colours and his sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. Today, his paintings are highly sought after by collectors and are considered important examples of French Impressionism.