Portfolio 10 - 1890

Curator: What an intriguing artifact! This is Charles Meryon's "Portfolio," created in the 1890s, mixing drawing, etching, and typography. It looks like it was done in ink. Editor: My first thought? It has the feeling of discovering a beautiful antique book. The color is muted, a sort of warm, aged tan, but the text is such a striking, deep blue! The calligraphy, or typeface, feels like art in itself. It invites touch, almost. Curator: It certainly does. Meryon, although primarily known for his etchings of Paris, always had a flair for graphic art, for presentation. Look how he’s presented this not just as a container but as a declaration, an aesthetic statement in itself. Editor: I appreciate how it blends both historical appreciation and original creative effort. I love that this is both a repository and a showcase, acknowledging both old copies and original pieces. He is consciously placing himself in conversation with artistic traditions and trying to challenge them. Curator: Absolutely. And considering Meryon's difficult life, struggling with mental illness and poverty, there's a poignant layer here. The portfolio becomes a testament to his resilience and dedication. I always think of these graphic arts as intensely human in their production; this looks so laborious and time-intensive. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it in that sense before, but knowing what Meryon was struggling through during this period, there is so much context. I can’t help thinking about access to resources – paper, ink – as elements in someone being able to create. Curator: The very existence of this object, especially when made up of other artworks, suggests ideas about collection, legacy, how artists see themselves within a grander tradition…it feels deeply layered, you know? Almost philosophical. Editor: This work serves as an insightful piece, highlighting the artist’s unique visual language within broader artistic conventions. Curator: Looking at Meryon's portfolio now, I'm reminded that art isn't always about the single image, but about the spaces and the stories it makes possible. Editor: Agreed! It is the interplay between heritage and innovation, a testament to the complex relationship between art and the world around it.