Profiel van de stad Lyon 1631 - 1691

Israel Silvestre made this print of Lyon sometime in the mid-17th century. Through his work, we can consider the changing roles of cities in early modern Europe, as centers of commerce, culture, and political power. Silvestre was one of many artists who produced cityscapes for elite patrons. His image of Lyon creates meaning through visual codes familiar to its intended audience. The skyline, with its emphasis on churches, attests to the importance of religion in the life of the city. Lyon was also a center for trade and its position on the river made it a key point on commercial routes. As an image, this print flatters Lyon, but it also invites us to ask how the artist and his patron might have felt about the city’s institutions and culture. Was it seen as a conservative bulwark or a progressive center of innovation? As historians, we can use prints like this as primary sources to better understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production.