View of the Sorbonne n.d.

Jean François Janinet created "View of the Sorbonne" using etching and aquatint. Encased within an oval frame, we observe a symmetrical composition, focused on the architectural grandeur of the Sorbonne. The linear perspective emphasizes depth, drawing our eyes towards the central dome. Janinet masterfully employs line and shading to define the neoclassical structure. Rows of windows create a grid, juxtaposed with the rounded dome, highlighting a tension between order and fluidity. The limited palette of muted blues, grays, and whites evokes a serene, almost dreamlike quality. The composition is divided into distinct sections, each defined by its architectural elements, like a structured language. It creates a semiotic relationship between the building and its representation. The building’s structure becomes a signifier of knowledge and authority, inviting us to contemplate how architecture itself conveys meaning and power. The artist’s formal arrangement serves as a coded message, inviting continuous interpretation and reflection.