Eglise Saint-Gervais 

Maximilien Luce painted the Eglise Saint-Gervais on canvas with oil in 1897, in the post-impressionist style. Luce was a staunch anti-establishmentarian, having supported the Paris Commune and embracing the anarchist movement, a philosophy that influenced many artists in his time. Here, the monumental church looms over a modest cityscape on the right bank of the Seine. The brushwork is loose, almost indifferent to the grand scene. The artist may well be asking the viewer to consider the relationship between religious institutions and the urban landscape that they often sought to dominate. How did the church serve the people of Paris? What symbolic value did it represent? Was it progressive or conservative? By studying historical documents, architectural plans, and the writings of social commentators, historians piece together the complex story of art's role in shaping society and its institutions.