Straatgezicht in Rouen, de kathedraal in de achtergrond 1885

Louis Jules Adeline's print, "Straatgezicht in Rouen, de kathedraal in de achtergrond" presents a fascinating interplay of form and structure. The composition is immediately striking, with the imposing book tilted across the foreground. The monochrome palette, articulated through fine lines, enhances the textural contrast between the smooth book cover, the rough stonework, and the misty cathedral spires. Adeline destabilizes conventional perspective by layering distinct urban landscapes—one real, one represented. This juxtaposition prompts us to question the boundaries between representation and reality, and how cultural artifacts mediate our perception. The print is a semiotic puzzle, where each element—the book, the statues, the distant cityscape—functions as a sign. It challenges fixed meanings and encourages an ongoing interpretation of urban space, memory, and representation.