Gezicht op Dives-sur-Mer 1869

"Gezicht op Dives-sur-Mer," or "View of Dives-sur-Mer," is a small etching by Maxime Lalanne. With a delicate touch, Lalanne captures a scene in the French seaside town. Consider that this work emerges from a 19th-century art world where landscape painting was a dominant genre, yet also a rapidly industrializing and urbanizing Europe. Maxime Lalanne creates an image that invites a sense of quiet contemplation, away from the clamor of city life. Look closely and you'll notice figures strolling along a path, their presence suggesting a leisure that was becoming more accessible to the rising middle class. There is a feeling of calm and stillness that pulls you into the landscape. Lalanne’s etching offers us a window into the desires and experiences of his time, reflecting both the embrace of nature and the changing social dynamics of 19th-century France.