Zicht op de kerk Saint-Sulpice in Parijs 1820 - 1821

This is Jean-Baptiste Arnout's rendering of the Saint-Sulpice church in Paris, captured in ink using the etching technique. The architectural structure of the church dominates the composition, its symmetrical facade drawing the eye upwards, accentuating its grandeur. The delicate lines of the etching capture the intricate details of the building’s neoclassical design, emphasizing its geometric forms, while the surrounding buildings are depicted in a more subdued manner, serving to frame the central subject. The use of perspective creates a sense of depth, yet it is controlled and precise, reflecting the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and order. The print functions almost like a cartographic exercise, mapping out the urban space with scientific accuracy, while simultaneously presenting it as an object of aesthetic contemplation. Through its formal structure and careful arrangement of space, the print conveys a sense of stability and permanence, characteristic of the period's architectural and philosophical ideals.