A Son at the Front

In a sun‑drenched Montmartre studio, an American portrait painter waits for his son’s arrival from England, the calendar on the wall marking the fateful summer of 1914. The artist, long accustomed to the fickle whims of Parisian society, has finally caught a glimpse of recognition after a portrait of his son was displayed at a prestigious salon. Yet his success feels fragile, shadowed by memories of harsh critics and the fading glory of the old masters he once idolized.

As rumors of war begin to swirl through the city, an uneasy “war‑funk” settles over his clientele, turning ordinary sittings into tense encounters. The painter observes the shifting moods of his patrons—some fearful, some oddly invigorated—while he grapples with the prospect that the world he knows may soon be irrevocably altered. This delicate balance of art, family, and looming conflict sets the stage for a story that explores both personal ambition and the uncertain horizon of a continent on the brink.