1860
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Présentation du Valère Maxime au Rois Louis XI (The Printer Valerius Maximus Being Presented to King Louis XI) is a 1860 ink by Charles Meryon, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy street scene with a group of people gathered around a kneeling man. The man on the ground holds a book while others stand or lean in, looking at him. One person in a long robe kneels beside him, and a small boy stands nearby, watching. The buildings in the background have tall windows with bars, and the ground is made of cobblestones. Notice how the artist used fine lines to show texture—like the folds in clothes or the grain of the stone walls. This style makes the scene feel real and detailed. Try looking up etching to see how artists like this create sharp, layered images.
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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