Artwork
L'arch du Pont Notre Dame, Paris
L'arch du Pont Notre Dame, Paris is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1853 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
L'arch du Pont Notre Dame, Paris is an 1853 etching by French artist Charles Meryon, characterized by its meticulous depiction of a Seine riverscape beneath a bridge, showcasing the artist's affinity for capturing Paris' urban landscape with a Gothic sensibility.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a moment of everyday life in 19th-century Paris, with boats and figures on the Seine contrasting against the backdrop of buildings with pointed roofs on the bridge, reflecting Meryon's unique vision of the city's architectural and human elements.
Technique & Style
Meryon employed sharp, detailed lines and expressive texture to convey the interplay of light and shadow (utilizing chiaroscuro), creating depth in the scene. This approach was typical of his etched works, adapted to his colour blindness.
History & Provenance
Created in 1853 as part of Meryon's series of Parisian views, the etching is less known in English-speaking contexts despite its representation of the artist's Gothic-inspired Parisian vision. Meryon's life was cut short in 1868 due to mental illness.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Meryon (sometimes Méryon, 23 November 1821 – 14 February 1868) was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he had colour blindness.
L'arche du Pont Notre-Dame, Paris (An Arch of the Notre-Dame Bridge, Paris)
L'Arch du Pont Notre Dame
L'arche du Pont Notre-Dame, Paris (An Arch of the Notre-Dame Bridge, Paris)
Etchings of Paris: An Arch of the Notre Dame Bridge
Le Pont-au-Change, Paris
Le Pont Neuf, Paris
Le Pont-au-Change, Paris
Le Pont-au-Change, Paris
The Pont de l'Hotel Dieu and the South Tower of Notre Dame, Paris
Le Pont-Neuf, Paris
L'Abside de Notre Dame de Paris