"In the Night and in the Shadows: Charles Meryon's Dark Visions of the City of Light," by Sarah Abare
Charles Meryon (1821-1868) is considered to be one of the greatest printmakers in the history of art. His most famous and ambitious project, a series of 22 etchings that he made between 1850-1854, presents incredibly detailed views of Paris that won praise from Victor Hugo, James Abbott McNeil Whistler and Vincent Van Gogh, among others, for their poetic and detailed representations of the City of Light. Sarah will be telling another story, though, that can be found in the ominous details of Meryon's prints, about a man plagued by anxiety, guilt and paranoia who saw evil lurking in the shadows and death around every corner.
Sarah Abare got her Master's Degree in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin. She now works in the Education Department at the Blanton Museum of Art.
