Parijs bij nacht 1875 - 1913

François Courboin made this etching, entitled "Paris by Night," sometime in his career spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The print depicts two figures walking along the Seine, with the imposing silhouette of Notre Dame Cathedral in the background. Courboin was working in a Paris that was being transformed by modernization and industrialization. This print offers a glimpse into the city's romantic allure, but one wonders if it is critiquing the church’s role in this changing society. The figures are anonymous, perhaps suggesting the alienation of modern urban life. The choice of a nocturnal scene further enhances the sense of mystery and introspection. To fully understand this image, one would need to delve into the archives of Parisian printmaking and the records of the city's cultural institutions, to examine the social and intellectual debates that animated artistic circles in this era.