Rue des Marmousets c. 19th century

Curator: Maxime Lalanne's "Rue des Marmousets" captures a slice of old Paris. The etching, with its intricate lines, seems to whisper forgotten histories. Editor: It feels claustrophobic, doesn't it? The tall buildings, the narrow street... the image is almost a visual representation of social constraints and class division in 19th-century Paris. Curator: Indeed. Lalanne was known for documenting the changing urban landscape, and here, we see the dense, often unsanitary conditions that characterized the lives of many working-class Parisians. The single figure in the street emphasizes isolation. Editor: The way the light falls, almost like a stage spotlight, feels intentionally symbolic. Do you see any evidence of the flâneur observing and documenting the urban experience? Curator: I see the shadow of a city altering itself, and asking us, what and who do we leave behind in the process of progress? Editor: Very perceptive. It’s a reminder that even the most beautiful cities have shadows lurking just beneath the surface.