Seine Boat for "Le Pont-au-Change" c. 1854

Charles Meryon sketched this Seine Boat for "Le Pont-au-Change" using graphite on paper in the 19th century. In this seemingly simple drawing, the marks of the graphite speak volumes. Note the rapid, searching lines, the way the artist lays down the overall form with quick strokes, and then returns to build up areas of deeper shadow. This isn't just a picture of a boat; it's a record of Meryon's encounter with the subject. The sketch is also intimately linked to the labor of printmaking. Meryon was fascinated by the working structures of Paris, and boats like this would have been a common sight, integral to the city's economy and culture. The drawing serves as a preparatory study, a vital step in the ultimately laborious process of etching. The artist chose to immortalize the image of the seine boat, elevating the status of everyday labor and the aesthetics of ordinary life.