Par ma fenêtre 1893 - 1943

Jean-Louis Boussingault made this print, ‘From my window’, using shades of grey and black to construct a world of urban solitude. Imagine Boussingault at the window, looking out at the world, feeling the weight of his own gaze. The image conveys a particular mood through its somber tones and grainy texture. I wonder if it was a cloudy day? The buildings in the background seem to loom and the figure in the foreground is swallowed by a dark cloak. It all makes me think about isolation and introspection. You can see the artist experimenting with the effects of light and shadow to create a sense of depth. Look at how the lines become fainter and fade into the background, drawing our attention to the solitary figure and its form. I get the sense that he was influenced by other early 20th-century printmakers. The artist invites us to observe, reflect, and interpret the scene based on our own experiences. How does this image make you feel?