Pont-au-Change, Paris n.d.

Edmond Gosselin created this etching, titled 'Pont-au-Change, Paris', sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Gosselin captures Paris at a time when the city was not only the center of the art world, but also a rapidly modernizing metropolis. Born in 1881, Gosselin lived during the Belle Époque, a period characterized by optimism, relative peace, and burgeoning artistic innovation. Yet, this era was also marked by stark class divisions and social inequalities. Gosselin’s choice to depict the Pont-au-Change, a bridge connecting the Palais de Justice with the Place du Châtelet, places us at the nexus of power, law, and commerce, hinting at the intricate relationships between these domains. The sepia tones and meticulous details evoke a sense of nostalgia for a pre-war world, even as the presence of a hot air balloon in the background suggests the dawning of a new, mechanized era. The way he frames the architecture with such precision, yet includes the ephemeral element of the balloon, invites us to reflect on the relationship between permanence and progress. The work acts as a mirror reflecting the hopes and anxieties of a society on the cusp of transformation.