Rooftops in the shadows 

This oil on paper artwork, titled "Rooftops in the Shadows," was created by Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes. Valenciennes used traditional materials and techniques of the time in the making of this artwork. By looking at it, you can imagine the smell of oil paint, and turpentine in the artist’s studio. The thick application of paint gives the rooftops a sense of texture, hinting at the rough and weathered surfaces of the buildings. The weight of the paint seems to ground the structures, anchoring them to the earth. What's interesting is the choice of subject: modest, quotidian buildings. Valenciennes was known for his landscapes but he has chosen an urban landscape. In doing so, he elevated the everyday to the level of high art, finding beauty in the humblest of places, inviting the viewer to appreciate the aesthetic qualities inherent in even the most ordinary scenes. This shift challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the depiction of common life.