Montagnes Russes Nautiques Dites Chutes Du Niagara 1895

Curator: This lithograph, "Montagnes Russes Nautiques Dites Chutes Du Niagara," meaning roughly “Nautical Roller Coasters, Called Niagara Falls," is by Georges Meunier and dates back to 1895. Immediately striking, isn’t it? Editor: It is! Almost like a whimsical stage set. The perspective feels delightfully skewed. Is that supposed to be a proto-water park ride plunging into…the Seine? Curator: That’s exactly what it depicts: a representation of an early amusement park attraction in Paris! See how Meunier’s really captured that effervescent, giddy thrill-seeking spirit of the time, very Belle Époque. Editor: I'm struck by the colours! Look at the use of the reds, yellows and blues – primaries. So celebratory and audacious, almost shouting for attention like an advert but it manages to evoke childlike awe. What’s really intriguing is how it merges modern thrill-seeking with historical nods. Curator: Precisely! Those women in the foreground, their elaborate hats… they’re icons of that era’s fashionable elite. They add depth but also act as sort of spectators, don't they? Notice, too, the hand-lettering used, a real Art Nouveau characteristic of poster art then, promising carefree nights at the "Jardin de Paris.” Editor: The figures almost feel posed like those in old allegorical prints - but look! Some are even nonchalantly watching the watery spectacle! They're a symbolic bridge from the past to this exciting future – this age of mechanized entertainment. And “Niagara Falls," feels significant doesn't it - to emphasize this notion of the power of industrial achievement for the urban leisure crowd. Curator: A spectacle within a spectacle! In a sense it captures both cultural fascination with nature, and also, almost in parody, humanity’s increasing detachment from it. A total representation of our human craving for control. And isn't the scene of nighttime entertainment promised something tantalizing too, hinting at secrets and possibilities. Editor: Absolutely! It serves as a poignant commentary too on our own attempts to interpret our connection to nature through entertainment and play. Makes you reflect… Curator: Definitely. Next time you're on a rollercoaster think of Meunier!