Stadsgezicht met huizen en karren langs een weg 1854

Eugène Cicéri created this city view with houses and carts along a road using pencil and gray ink. The scene presents a slice of 19th-century urban life. Cicéri, working during a period of significant social change, captures the mundane details of a town. Note how the figures are placed: some are working, others are resting. This arrangement of the image prompts us to reflect on the disparities within society. The artist prompts a dialogue between the working class and those with the privilege of leisure. Consider also the role of women in the image, particularly in the context of the mid-1800s. How does their presence or absence speak to their social standing and mobility at the time? Cicéri’s city view invites us to contemplate the ever-evolving urban landscape. Through the artist’s focus, we witness a moment in time that reflects broader societal narratives.