Quartier des Gobelins, plate 20 from Le Long de la Seine et des Boulevards Possibly 1889 - 1910

Curator: Auguste-Louis Lepère's etching and engraving, "Quartier des Gobelins," part of his "Le Long de la Seine et des Boulevards" series, provides us a compelling cityscape, possibly dating from 1889 to 1910. What strikes you about it initially? Editor: A sense of overwhelming urban oppression. That sky choked with smoke, those relentless buildings pressing in…it feels almost dystopian. The artist seems intent on showing the toll industrialization took on the everyday Parisian. Curator: The formal qualities support that reading. Notice the dense concentration of lines, creating areas of intense dark value, balanced by the stark white of the paper in the foreground. Lepère masterfully uses the etching technique to convey depth and atmospheric perspective. The tall chimneys are a focal point, yes, but also compositional devices drawing the eye upwards. Editor: Exactly, those chimneys, those plumes—they symbolize the relentless encroachment of industry. What about the residents, the unseen people breathing in that air? How did these conditions impact working-class communities, particularly concerning health and economic disparities? This piece almost acts as a form of early environmental protest, unveiling what was often veiled in celebratory images of modernity. Curator: Certainly, that reading holds weight. The contrasting textures—the rough, almost chaotic lines of the buildings versus the smoother gradations of the sky—reinforce the tension between the built environment and the natural world. Structurally, one could even say this discord forms the crux of the composition itself. Editor: And let’s remember, the area of Gobelins was deeply tied to the tapestry industry. Consider how that industry shaped its social fabric, often exploiting vulnerable workers. I believe this print invites a critique of capitalism's relentless march. Curator: It offers an intense engagement for any viewer willing to meet its gaze, for sure. The rigorous rendering of its subject in precise visual terms makes for a work capable of speaking across decades. Editor: Yes, an important reminder that beauty and truth can often emerge from documenting even the most uncomfortable realities. Its beauty is that it offers an important portal for further exploration.