Rue des Marmousets c. 19th century

Curator: Maxime Lalanne’s "Rue des Marmousets" presents us with a narrow Parisian street rendered in delicate etching. What strikes you about it? Editor: The buildings feel so close, almost oppressive, and the street seems deserted despite the traces of life. It makes me wonder, what kind of commentary might Lalanne be making about urban life in Paris? Curator: Precisely! Lalanne, working in the late 19th century, captured a Paris undergoing massive Haussmannian renovations. Consider the social implications: old neighborhoods were demolished, displacing working-class communities. Could this etching be a lament for what was lost in the name of progress? Editor: So, the apparent emptiness isn’t just an aesthetic choice, but maybe a statement about the disappearance of a certain way of life? Curator: Indeed. The crumbling architecture, the narrow perspective – they all contribute to a sense of alienation and displacement. What do you make of that? Editor: I see it now – the street feels less like a bustling place and more like a forgotten corner of the city. It's much more potent than just a pretty picture. Curator: Absolutely, art often invites us to look beyond the surface and consider the complexities of the human experience.