1854
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
L'abside de Notre-Dame de Paris (The Apse of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris) is a 1854 ink by Charles Meryon, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a grand cathedral with two tall towers and a bridge in front. People and horses walk across the bridge, while small boats float on the river below. The buildings around the cathedral look old and simple, with flat roofs and small windows. The artist used sharp lines to show every detail, from the cathedral’s pointed arches to the ripples in the water. This style was new for its time, focusing on real-life scenes instead of fancy ideas. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made precise prints.
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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