Lillebonne in 1848 c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Lillebonne in 1848", an etching by G. Snell, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The spire just pierces the sky, doesn't it? It gives the whole scene a sort of gothic…longing. Curator: Indeed. The artist has skillfully employed hatching and cross-hatching to delineate form and texture. Note how the density of lines creates areas of deep shadow. Editor: The figures are tiny, almost swallowed by the architecture. It's like the town itself is the main character, not the people living in it. Curator: Precisely. The composition emphasizes the dominance of the built environment, a visual statement about societal structures, perhaps. Editor: I love how the light catches the spire, though. It’s like a little beacon of hope amidst all that stone. Well, that's a wrap on Lillebonne. Curator: Quite so. A compelling piece for those attentive to tonal values.