Zicht op de Fontaine des Innocents in Parijs 1840 - 1842

Ernest Jaime created this print of the Fontaine des Innocents in Paris, capturing a bustling marketplace scene. The print provides a glimpse into 19th-century Parisian life, shaped by the post-revolutionary social order and rapid urbanization. The artist's eye for detail presents a tableau of various social classes interacting within the same public space. Market women, presumed to be working class, dominate the foreground, while more formally dressed figures hint at bourgeois society. The Fontaine des Innocents stands as a backdrop to these interactions, a structure commissioned to commemorate royal power and an era of prosperity. Jaime presents a narrative of everyday life, but his choices reflect the aesthetic values of his time. Consider how this contrasts with the realities of class division, as seen in the varied attire and activities of the people depicted. The print invites us to ponder the complex tapestry of Parisian society, shaped by historical forces and defined by the personal experiences of its inhabitants.