Artwork

Les deux grandes vues de Paris: Vue du Pont Neuf

Les deux grandes vues de Paris:  Vue du Pont Neuf, by Jacques Callot, 1629
Les deux grandes vues de Paris:  Vue du Pont Neuf, by Jacques Callot, 1629

Les deux grandes vues de Paris: Vue du Pont Neuf is a print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1629 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

One shows the Pont Neuf bridge from above with tiny figures and boats on the Seine.

You see two small, detailed prints of Paris from the 1600s. One shows the Pont Neuf bridge from above with tiny figures and boats on the Seine. The lines are sharp and precise, like an early photograph.

Callot used a printmaking method called etching. He scratched designs into metal plates with acid, which let him make many copies. This was new in his day.

Try looking up Jacques Callot (French, 1592–1635).

Overview

Les deux grandes vues de Paris: Vue du Pont Neuf is a 1629 print by Jacques Callot, housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art. This work presents two detailed, small-scale views of 17th-century Paris.

Subject & Meaning

One view depicts the Pont Neuf bridge from an aerial perspective, populated with diminutive figures and boats on the Seine, capturing everyday life in Paris during the early 17th century.

Technique & Style

Characterized by sharp, precise lines reminiscent of early photography, the print showcases Callot's mastery of etching. This involved scratching designs into metal plates treated with acid, enabling mass production—a novel technique for its time.

History & Provenance

Created in 1629 by French artist Jacques Callot (1592–1635), the print's current location is The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jacques Callot

Artist

Jacques Callot

Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.