Titelprent met zicht op Parijs 1906 - 1911

Henri Manesse created this print of Paris in 1911; it's an etching, so he worked into a metal plate with acid. I'm immediately drawn to the contrasts he's managed to coax out of this monochrome palette. Look how Manesse uses the etching needle to define the architectural details along the riverbank, those sharp lines and the way they catch the light. The details create depth, pulling us into the scene, making us feel as though we’re walking along with the figures in the distance. The title, "Le Vieux Paris s'en Va", hints at a city in flux. It reminds me of Whistler’s etchings, how he captured a sense of place with such economy. But where Whistler is all about atmosphere, Manesse seems more interested in documenting the specifics of this urban landscape. Art is nothing if not a conversation across time, each artist responding to those who came before, finding their own way to see the world.