Zicht op de basiliek Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon 1856 - 1858

Léon Auguste Asselineau created this print of the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica in Lyon. The basilica dominates the composition, its height accentuated by a vertical format. Asselineau's use of soft, muted colors evokes a sense of timelessness. The basilica is rendered with careful attention to its architectural details. Note how the facade features rounded arches and the tower rises in distinct stages. Asselineau’s arrangement of shapes invites a reading of structural organization. The overall symmetry of the basilica is only slightly offset by the figures in the foreground, which creates a spatial tension. This print can be seen as an exploration of architectural form, where the basilica acts as a signifier of stability and order. However, the delicate tones suggest a transient quality, highlighting the interplay between permanence and change. This tension encapsulates how art continuously reinterprets cultural symbols.