Leurs Filles; Les Fourches caudines; Lidoire 1891

Henri Rivière created this color lithograph, "Leurs Filles; Les Fourches caudines; Lidoire," at the turn of the 20th century. It depicts a barge floating on the Seine, with the newly-erected Eiffel Tower looming in the background. The image tells us much about France at this time. We see the country’s burgeoning industrial sector with the barge likely transporting goods, alongside the Eiffel Tower, an emblem of France’s engineering prowess and national pride. Rivière flattens the composition, drawing on the Japanese ukiyo-e printmaking tradition. This style became fashionable in France after trade routes opened between Europe and Japan, influencing artists like Rivière to experiment with visual codes from other cultures. Understanding this print requires us to consider not just its aesthetic qualities, but also the social and economic conditions of its making. We can turn to sources from the period, like trade records, exhibition reviews, and accounts of the artist to learn more. By situating art within its historical context, we gain a richer understanding of its meaning.