Gezicht op de Notre-Dame in Parijs 1876 - 1911

Adolphe van Weezel Errens created this print of the Notre-Dame in Paris using etching. The Notre-Dame is more than just a building; it’s an institution, laden with cultural and historical significance. Its image carries a heavy symbolic weight for France, particularly for Roman Catholics. Van Weezel Errens, working in a period of rising nationalism, engages with these symbols through the conventions of printmaking, a medium historically tied to mass communication and the dissemination of ideas. Consider how the choice of viewpoint – from across the Seine – affects our reading. The bridge suggests connection, but also distance. Is this a view of reverence or critical assessment? Analysing the formal elements, such as line and perspective, alongside the historical context, allows us to understand this print not just as a depiction of a building, but as a statement about French identity and the role of cultural icons. To understand this artwork better, look at studies of French nationalism, histories of the Catholic Church, and the cultural role of architecture.