The Old Entrance to the Palais de Justice, Paris 1854

Charles Meryon created this etching of "The Old Entrance to the Palais de Justice, Paris", capturing a moment of profound transformation in the city. Meryon, a French artist working in the mid-19th century, was known for his detailed depictions of Paris, often tinged with a sense of melancholy and critique. The etching presents more than just a building; it reveals a Paris on the cusp of change, haunted by its past. The Palais de Justice, a symbol of law and order, is rendered with meticulous detail, yet it's crowned by strange, almost gothic imagery. A winged creature, reminiscent of a gargoyle or demon, hovers above, bearing a banner that seems to mock the very idea of justice. Meryon’s Paris is not the romanticized vision of progress celebrated by some, but a city wrestling with its identity. His choice to focus on the old entrance, soon to be demolished, speaks to a concern for the erasure of history in the name of modernity. In this way, the artwork becomes an elegy for a disappearing Paris, inviting us to reflect on what is lost in the relentless march of time.