Artwork

View of Part of the City of Paris Toward the Close of the 17th Century

View of Part of the City of Paris Toward the Close of the 17th Century is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1861 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

View of Part of the City of Paris Toward the Close of the 17th Century is an 1861 etching by Charles Meryon, offering a detailed, imaginative depiction of a 17th-century Parisian riverside scene.

Subject & Meaning

The print captures a row of old wooden buildings along a riverbank, with steep, uneven rooftops, crowded windows, boats, and figures on the water and docks, conveying a sense of everyday life in historic Paris.

Technique & Style

Characterized by fine, precise lines, the etching blends meticulous detail with a dreamy, slightly hazy quality, reflecting Meryon's distinctive Gothic-infused vision of the city.

History & Provenance

Created in 1861, the work is part of Meryon's series of Parisian cityscapes; despite his significance in 19th-century French etching, Meryon's work remains less recognized in the English-speaking world.

Context

Meryon's personal life, marked by a mother who performed at the Paris Opera and his own struggles with mental illness, contrasts with the serene, historic tableau he presents in this work.

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles Meryon

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.