Boulevard Montmartre 1884

Maxime Lalanne etched this view of the Boulevard Montmartre, capturing a bustling Parisian scene. The continuous line of buildings on either side creates a corridor, drawing the eye toward a vanishing point, a symbol deeply rooted in Western art tradition. The motif of perspective—of receding lines meeting at a distant horizon—was formalised during the Renaissance, reflecting a new humanistic focus on order and perception. But even before that, the Romans used this, such as in the Villa of Mysteries frescoes in Pompeii, showing how deeply ingrained this way of seeing is in our cultural psyche. This illusionistic space, this journey into the unknown, engages viewers on a subconscious level, creating a sense of depth and drawing us into the heart of Parisian life. It captures the collective memory of urban environments, their endless possibilities and inherent anonymity, and the way the human figure occupies and navigates it. It’s a motif that cyclically resurfaces, constantly evolving, and echoing through our visual history.