Stenen orgelopgang in de kerk van Saint-Maclou te Rouen 1874

Editor: This print by Henry Valentin from 1874 is titled "Stenen orgelopgang in de kerk van Saint-Maclou te Rouen," which roughly translates to "Stone organ staircase in the Church of Saint-Maclou in Rouen." The incredible detail really jumped out at me; the engraving makes it look almost photographic. What strikes you most about this image? Curator: Ah, yes! It’s the kind of print that invites you into another time, another world, doesn't it? To me, it's like stepping inside a gothic daydream. Look at the sheer verticality of the lines, that insistent pull upwards – almost a visual prayer. And the light! See how Valentin uses line to suggest light filtering through stone? The image feels almost reverent, don't you think? Almost like whispering inside the building itself... What feelings does that evoke for you? Editor: I agree. The detail and the perspective give it that feeling of vastness and almost spiritual awe, as you put it. It definitely transports you. I’m curious about the "L'Art pour tous" at the top. Is that a publication? Curator: Good eye! It certainly is! "L'Art pour tous" translates to "Art for all" and was a magazine aimed at democratizing art through affordable prints. I find it rather amusing when something ostensibly “for everyone” now hides away in museums! This engraving showcases the intricacy of late Gothic architecture in Normandy. It makes me wonder about the original artisans, who dedicated lifetimes to carving such stone lacework. This image reminds us that sometimes the grandest gestures lie in the smallest, most meticulously crafted details. Do you get that sense as well? Editor: Yes, absolutely. Knowing that this was made to be affordable art also changes my perspective; it really does become a doorway into understanding a different time and place, and the values of its people. Curator: Exactly! And it reminds us that the best art is that which sparks a little curiosity and inspires a whisper of wonder, in the everyday.