Artwork
San Francisco
San Francisco is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
San Francisco is an etching created by Charles Meryon in 1856, showcasing the artist's unique Gothic-inspired vision through a detailed coastal cityscape.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene, orderly city built on hills, with a river, harbor, and everyday life subtly animated by people and animals. Two figures at the bottom, one holding a shield with the city's name, ground the scene in identification.
Technique & Style
Meryon, limited by colour blindness, excelled in etching to achieve atmospheric depth and architectural precision, characteristic of his distinctive style.
History & Provenance
Produced before the advent of common photography, this etching offers a rare 19th-century imaginative representation of San Francisco, reflecting how unseen places were conceptualized at the time.
Context
Aligning with Realist tendencies, the work focuses on everyday scenes, though Meryon's Gothic sensibility sets it apart.
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.
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