The Floor Scrapers marks the first time that workers are the main focus of a painting.
Like the Realists and Impressionists, Caillebotte was fed up with representing historical subjects.
He sought to depict the world as he saw it, capturing the reality of everyday life.
The painting pays tribute to workers who would have worked hard to embellish the interiors of Parisian apartments, at a time of profound transformation of the city.
Indeed most of the Paris we know today dates back to this period.
It was a period of dramatic change, led by the famous Paris prefect, Georges-Eugène Haussmann.
Haussmann gutted Medieval Paris, drew up new avenues, created parks, constructed monumental buildings and train stations...
Under his guidance, 34,000 new buildings were erected, 600,000 new trees planted - with strict architectural guidelines, giving rise to the iconic architectural style we associate with Paris today.
The Salon, the most prestigious art competition of the time, rejected Caillebotte's painting, judging it vulgar and of no interest.
Despite this setback, Caillebotte went on to become one of the leading figures of the Impressionist movement.
His paintings are worth millions today.
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