Artwork
Chevrier's Cold Bath Establishment, Paris
Chevrier's Cold Bath Establishment, Paris is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1954.900
- Credit line
- The Milton Curtiss Rose Collection in memory of Evelyn Curtiss Rose
About this work
Check out Charles Meryon (French, 1821–1868) to see more of his detailed street drawings.
This sketch shows a busy Paris street scene with a cold bathhouse in the center. People walk along the sidewalk, while others sit or stand near the water. A flag waves on a pole, and buildings with tall windows line the street. The drawing is all in black lines, with no color.
The bathhouse sign reads "Bain-Froid Chevrier," which means cold baths. The artist focused on everyday city life, not fancy scenes.
Check out Charles Meryon (French, 1821–1868) to see more of his detailed street drawings.
Overview
Chevrier's Cold Bath Establishment, Paris is an 1864 etching by French artist Charles Meryon, depicting a mundane Parisian street scene centered around a cold bathhouse.
Subject & Meaning
The print focuses on everyday urban life, showing people engaging in various activities around the 'Bain-Froid Chevrier'. The scene emphasizes the ordinary, rather than the grandiose, aspects of city living.
Technique & Style
Executed in black lines without color, the etching reflects Meryon's adaptation to colour blindness. His distinctive Gothic-infused vision of Paris is evident in the detailed, lined rendering of buildings and figures.
History & Provenance
Created in 1864, the etching is part of Meryon's oeuvre characterized by his unique perspective on Paris. Meryon's life was cut short by mental illness, leading to his death in an asylum in 1868.
Context
This work represents Meryon's contribution to 19th-century printmaking, particularly in etching, where he found success despite his visual limitation. It captures a snapshot of mid-19th-century Parisian daily life.
Own this work as a print
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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View of Part of the City of Paris, Towards the Close of the 17th Century
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