Rue des Toiles, Bourges 1853

Charles Meryon created "Rue des Toiles, Bourges" using etching. Meryon was part of the 19th-century etching revival, focusing on urban landscapes that captured the spirit of a rapidly changing Paris. His personal struggles with mental health profoundly influenced his artistic vision, lending his work a melancholic and sometimes haunting quality. This image captures the old street, before the radical Haussmann renovations. We can see the effects of urban life on marginalized communities. Look at the figures sketched in the shadows. They are placed on the margins of the composition, hinting at the social inequalities embedded in urban development. Meryon’s technical skill and his sensitivity to the human condition can be observed by the way light and shadow render both the architectural details and the figures populating the street. Meryon’s work serves as a reminder of the complex layers of history, identity, and experience that shape our understanding of place.