Etching 

Here we see an etching by Charles Meryon, where the city unfolds in a tapestry of finely articulated lines. The composition, anchored by robust architectural forms, creates a compelling tension between the static structures and the bustling city life. Meryon masterfully manipulates perspective, drawing our eye across the urban landscape, yet the effect is destabilizing. The density of detail competes for our attention, refusing a singular focal point and questioning traditional hierarchies of representation. The artist uses a semiotic system of signs to interpret the visual components and cultural codes which may have informed the artwork's making and reception. Consider the lines themselves. Notice how they build depth and texture. This reflects a broader artistic concern with how the medium of etching could challenge fixed meanings. The formal qualities serve not just an aesthetic purpose but invite us to engage with the city as a text, full of signs and open to interpretation.