← Camille Pissarro

The Street of the Grand Clock, Rouen

Original title: The Street of the Grand Clock, Rouen

Artist

Camille Pissarro

Date

1885

Medium

Etching and aquatint on beige laid paper (Van Gelder); third state

Dimensions

sheet: 14 7/16 x 10 13/16 in. (36.7 x 27.5 cm) plate: 7 5/8 x 5 3/4 in. (19.3 x 14.6 cm)

Credit line

Gift of W. L. Andrews, 1917

kurzbeschreibung

Camille Pissarro made this etching, The Street of the Great Clock, Rouen, in 1885, capturing a lively street scene in Rouen. It shows the Rue du Gros Horloge with the cathedral in the background. The print is an etching with aquatint on Van Gelder laid paper, in the third state.

Description

A street lined with buildings of varying heights shapes the layout. In the foreground, two figures walk toward the street. Behind them, a crowd wearing hats goes about various activities. The view closes with a striking structure featuring a dome and tower—the cathedral. Diffused light gives the scene a calm, everyday mood.

Context

Pissarro created this etching during a stay in Rouen, a city he explored artistically several times. The Rue du Gros Horloge is one of the main streets and takes its name from the astronomical clock there. The print dates from a period when Pissarro was deeply engaged with printmaking and experimenting with different techniques. The third state shows his revisions, through which he refined the image's effect.

Impact

The print conveys a quiet, almost documentary mood of urban life. Its monochrome graphics draw attention to linework and shadow, which emphasize the depth of the street. The scene feels realistic and everyday, without idealizing elements.

Technique

An etching with aquatint allows for fine gradations of gray. The paper is a laid paper from the Van Gelder firm, valued for its texture and absorbency. The print is in the third state, indicating careful work on the plate.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)