A View of Paris with the Op 1886

This drawing, A View of Paris with the Opéra, by Vincent van Gogh, appears to be made with a humble reed pen and ink on paper. The scene feels gritty, urban, and immediate, largely due to the linear quality of the medium. Notice how the ink hasn't been blended or manipulated but left as the most economic, descriptive mark possible. The texture of the paper itself adds to this effect. The quick sketch style is significant; in the 19th century, Paris was a rapidly industrializing city, drawing workers from the countryside in droves, and a fleeting glimpse of such a complex, changing metropolis seems perfectly captured in the raw materiality of this drawing. It reminds us that van Gogh himself was part of this social fabric, one of many who came to the city seeking opportunity. Looking closely at the material qualities of this work encourages us to reflect on the historical and economic forces that shaped its creation.