1852
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
La Tour de l'Horloge, Paris (The Clock Tower, Paris) is a 1852 ink by Charles Meryon, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a tall, old clock tower with sharp spires and a steep roof. Below it, a bridge arches over a river, with boats tied up under the shadows. The buildings around the tower have lots of windows and pointed roofs, and the whole scene looks a little smoky, like a city waking up. Notice how the artist used fine lines to show every brick and beam—this isn’t just a quick sketch. The smoke rising from the towers adds a quiet, lived-in feel to the scene. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists create detailed prints like this.
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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