Drie paarden op de Pont de Sully in Parijs 1902

Editor: This is "Three Horses on the Pont de Sully in Paris," an etching by Pieter Dupont, created in 1902. I’m struck by how the energy of the horses contrasts with the almost ghostly, faded city in the background. It's like two different worlds occupying the same space. What do you see in this piece, from your perspective? Curator: I see a potent commentary on the changing urban landscape at the turn of the century. Dupont places these powerful horses, symbols of pre-industrial labor and transport, against the backdrop of a modernizing Paris. Consider the Pont de Sully itself, a feat of engineering connecting different parts of the city. Editor: So the contrast isn't just visual, it’s also about societal shifts? Curator: Precisely. The etching captures a moment of transition. The horses, likely used for hauling goods or construction materials, are caught in a dance with the emerging cityscape. Notice how the driver, almost obscured, seems secondary to the animals' strength, yet is directing their movement within this modern context. Editor: I hadn't considered the driver's role in relation to the larger city. What would people at the time make of it? Curator: Parisians would likely recognize this tension. The city was rapidly industrializing, and the presence of such working animals on a modern bridge would have been a common, though perhaps increasingly anachronistic, sight. The print likely resonated with anxieties and excitements about the changing social and economic order. The etching suggests a fleeting moment, soon to be lost. What do you think? Editor: Now, looking at it that way, I appreciate how the print serves as a historical document, revealing how society negotiated the rise of industry. It isn't just horses, but labor, transport, progress. That's a pretty complex statement. Thank you!