1864
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Collège Henri IV, Paris, ou Lycée Napoléon (Henry IV College or Napoleon School, Paris) is a 1864 ink by Charles Meryon, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white drawing shows a busy Paris street lined with tall, narrow buildings. In the center stands a big, multi-story school with a courtyard full of people walking or sitting. To the right, a river runs along the bottom, where more people gather near boats and horses. The scene feels crowded but orderly, with lots of small details like windows, doors, and rooftops. Notice how the artist used fine lines to show light and shadow—some areas are almost erased to look like reflections or smoke. The buildings lean slightly, making the whole scene feel a bit unstable. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Meryon create these precise, layered lines.
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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