1865
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Le Ministère de la Marine, Paris (The Admiralty, Paris) is a 1865 ink by Charles Meryon, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a grand, classical building with tall columns and a flat roof. In front, a crowd of people and horses fills the street. Above, flying creatures—some look like bats, others like birds—drift across a stormy sky. A tall obelisk stands off to the right, and the whole scene feels both busy and slightly eerie. The title at the bottom calls it *Le Ministère de la Marine*, which means it’s the old French navy building. The mix of real people and strange flying shapes might hint at unrest or chaos in the city. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Meryon used ink and metal plates to create these detailed 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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