Artwork
The Exchange Bridge, Paris, about 1784
The Exchange Bridge, Paris, about 1784 is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Exchange Bridge, Paris, about 1784 is a print created by Charles Meryon in 1855. It is part of a series of Parisian views that showcase the artist's distinctive vision of the city.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a Parisian cityscape, featuring a bridge lined with buildings that spans a river. Figures are present in the foreground, adding a sense of life to the scene.
Technique & Style
Meryon employed a range of tones to achieve a sense of depth and atmosphere, utilizing chiaroscuro to create contrast and add drama to the composition. The artist's use of etching, a medium suited to his color blindness, allowed for detailed renderings of the city's architecture.
History & Provenance
Charles Meryon, a French etcher, struggled with mental illness throughout his life and died in an asylum. His mother was a dancer at the Paris Opera, and his work reflects a unique perspective on the city.
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.
Le Pont-au-change, Paris, vers 1784
Le Pont-au-Change, Paris, vers 1784
Le Pont-au-Change, Paris, vers 1784
Etchings of Paris: The Exchange Bridge
Paris, View from the Concorde Bridge
Etchings of Paris: An Arch of the Notre Dame Bridge
L'arche du Pont Notre-Dame, Paris (An Arch of the Notre-Dame Bridge, Paris)
L'arche du Pont Notre-Dame, Paris (An Arch of the Notre-Dame Bridge, Paris)