Collège Henri IV, Paris, ou Lycée Napoléon (Henry IV College or Napoleon School, Paris)
1864
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1864
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a chaotic, layered cityscape with buildings stacked like a mess of paper. Rooftops spill over each other, streets twist into the distance, and tiny figures walk or ride horses below. A big church looms on the left, while ships dot the water in the background—birds fly overhead like scattered ink. The artist packed in so much detail that some buildings look like they’re falling apart. It’s almost like the city is breathing, crowded and alive. Want to see how this etching technique works? Look up etching.
