Artwork
Parisian Landscapes: Paris seen from Montmartre
Parisian Landscapes: Paris seen from Montmartre is a print by Henri Rivière. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
In the foreground, two women sit on a bench, one with a broom, while another stands near a lamppost.
This painting shows a rooftop view of a city with a hazy, distant skyline. In the foreground, two women sit on a bench, one with a broom, while another stands near a lamppost. Two dogs sniff the ground below. The buildings are packed close, with chimneys and slanted roofs. The sky is pale with soft clouds, and the whole scene looks warm and quiet.
The artist used light colors to blur the far-off buildings, making them fade into the sky. This trick makes the city feel both busy and peaceful at once.
Next, check out Henri Rivière (French, 1864–1951) to see how he painted other city views.
Overview
Parisian Landscapes: Paris seen from Montmartre, created by Henri Rivière in 1900, is a landscape print capturing a serene rooftop view of Paris from Montmartre.
Subject & Meaning
The scene contrasts a tranquil foreground, where two women and two dogs engage in everyday activities, with a softly rendered, bustling cityscape in the background, evoking a sense of simultaneous activity and calm.
Technique & Style
Rivière employed light colors and atmospheric perspective to blur distant buildings, merging them with the pale, cloudy sky. This post-Impressionist technique achieves a unique blend of vibrancy and serenity.
History & Provenance
The work is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, reflecting Rivière's contribution to late 19th and early 20th-century French art, particularly in capturing urban landscapes with emphasis on light and atmosphere.
Context
This piece fits within Rivière's broader oeuvre, which includes shadow play and post-Impressionist illustrations, often focusing on the interplay of light, everyday life, and the Parisian landscape.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Rivière (March 11, 1864 – August 24, 1951) was a French artist and designer best known for his creation of a form of shadow play at the Chat Noir cabaret, and for his post-Impressionist illustrations of Breton landscapes and the…
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