Who painted Le Pont-au-Change, Paris?

Le Pont-au-Change, Paris was painted by Charles Meryon in 1854.

Where can I see Le Pont-au-Change, Paris?

Le Pont-au-Change, Paris is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Pont-au-Change, Paris?

Le Pont-au-Change, Paris is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Le Pont-au-Change, Paris

Charles Meryon , 1854

Le Pont-au-Change, Paris is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1854, Le Pont‑au‑Change, Paris is an etching executed on green laid paper.

Inscription: Inscribed:Not signed. Not dated. "317" verso, lower right sheet, graphite, unknown hand.
Markings: Marked:"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1760b). "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1932d). "LD" (Loys Delteil collector's stamp) verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 773).

About this work

Overview

Created in 1854, Le Pont‑au‑Change, Paris is an etching executed on green laid paper. The print depicts a segment of the Seine where a three‑arched stone bridge spans the water, flanked by a grand, spire‑topped building and a bustling riverbank populated with rowboats and pedestrians.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a typical Parisian riverscape, emphasizing the interplay between architecture and daily life. The towering façade with numerous windows suggests the city's historic grandeur, while the modest vessels and figures convey the ordinary rhythms of commerce and transport along the Seine.

Technique & Style

Meryon employed delicate, closely spaced lines to render architectural detail, water ripples, and human activity. This meticulous line work, characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century French etching, allows a high degree of texture and tonal variation despite the monochrome medium.

History & Provenance

The print belongs to Meryon’s celebrated series of Paris views, produced during a period when the artist, despite being color‑blind, focused on the city’s Gothic atmosphere. He continued to work until his institutionalization, dying in an asylum in 1868.

Context

Meryon’s work reflects a broader nineteenth‑century fascination with urban historicism, where artists documented the evolving face of Paris. His emphasis on stone structures and atmospheric detail aligns with contemporary interests in preserving the city’s medieval character amid rapid modernization.

Le Pont-au-Change, Paris, Charles Meryon

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles Meryon

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.