View Of The Observatory District 1882

Maximilien Luce painted this view of the Observatory District using oil on canvas. Luce was a Neo-Impressionist, using small touches of paint to build up an image. This technique, also known as pointillism, was rooted in scientific theories about how the eye perceives color. In the late 19th century, it was a modern, almost industrial approach to painting. But look closer, and you'll see something more. Luce was deeply engaged with the politics of labor, making many images of industrial subjects, often heroicizing the worker. You could even say that in this image, the artist’s labor is highlighted. The painting consists of many tiny, discrete gestures, each one demanding a decision and physical effort. It’s not simply about depicting the scene, but about the act of looking, choosing, and applying. So, while the scene is of Paris’s educated elite, the method of production, the many touches of paint, speak to a different social reality. The way the picture is made reminds us of the value – and visibility – of labor.