Brassai was a philosopher, reader, writer, and photographer with a passion for literature. He found a place in history when he published his book Paris de nuit (Paris by Night) in 1933 and claimed the night as his subject. Brassai used shadows as skillfully as he used light to construct nighttime pictures. The shadows and reflections that he was able to capture on film, release the worlds of the imagination and desire. He taught the viewer to love what cannot be seen in a photograph and penetrated the secret of light and night. His photographs provoke questions that ask the viewer to search for answers.

Brassai's Avenue de l'Observatoire is no exception. The car's headlights and the lampposts bring light to the photograph by revealing what lies in the shadows. These lights also make evident the surrounding fog, which in effect creates a dreary obscure feeling. One can almost sense that danger lurks behind any corner. The lights in the background draw the eye in and evoke a sense of drama and mystery. Brassai didn't just want to portray Paris as the city of love, but as a city filled with mystery and fantasy. Where is the car going? Who is driving? What lies in the shadows? Brassai leaves these questions up to the viewers' imagination.