L'abside de Notre-Dame de Paris (The Apse of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris)

Charles Meryon

National Gallery of Art

The image is an etching depicting a view from the bank of a river, looking toward Notre Dame Cathedral. Two towers of Notre Dame stand out, dominating the scene. The horizon is near the middle of the image, lined with buildings. The etching shows detailed buildings, natural elements, and clouds in the sky. Closest to us, figures are seen on a sandy riverbank next to a horse-drawn cart, with boats in the water nearby. The color palette is monochromatic in brown and black.