Twee schoorsteenvegers lopen op straat 1825 - 1835

This lithograph, titled "Two Chimney Sweepers Walking on the Street" was created by Jean-Baptiste Madou. The eye is immediately drawn to the two figures striding purposefully across the frame. These chimney sweeps, rendered in meticulous detail, dominate the composition through their placement in the foreground and the sharp contrasts of light and shadow that define their forms. Madou masterfully uses linear perspective to construct a believable three-dimensional space. Notice how the buildings recede into the background, drawing the viewer's eye through the scene. The overall structure, however, is not just a visual trick; it reflects a deeper cultural narrative. The crisp lines and realistic depiction of the figures suggest a world grounded in observation, yet the very subject of chimney sweeps hints at the social realities of labour and urban life. Madou, through his formal choices, invites us to consider the structures that shape society itself.