Montmartre; vage schets 1773 - 1843

Georges Michel made this sketch of Montmartre with graphite on paper at an unknown date. This image captures the essence of Montmartre, a place that has long attracted artists and bohemians. The sketch hints at the area’s transformation during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. With its windmills and open fields, we see a rural landscape on the fringes of an expanding Paris. Michel made many such sketches which record these transformations. At this time, institutions like the École des Beaux-Arts promoted academic styles, but artists like Michel, working outside these official circles, sought a more direct engagement with nature and everyday life. It’s worth asking: what social conditions allowed Michel to pursue his artistic vision? Did his work challenge or reinforce the dominant social norms of his time? To better understand the context, one might consult historical maps, census records, or exhibition reviews. Ultimately, the meaning of this sketch lies in its relationship to the social and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.