Le Stryge - Charles Meryon

A detailed 1852 etching by Charles Meryon depicting the medieval Clock Tower of the Conciergerie in Paris.

Charles Meryon produced this etching, titled Le Stryge, as part of his celebrated series, Eaux-fortes sur Paris. The work depicts the Tour de l'Horloge, or the Clock Tower, of the Conciergerie in Paris. Meryon was a naval officer turned artist who turned his attention to the medieval architecture of Paris during a period of rapid urban transformation. His approach to the medium of etching is precise, favouring sharp, controlled lines that define the stone masonry and the gothic features of the structure.

The composition focuses on the heavy, imposing mass of the tower, which looms over the Seine. Meryon employs a dark, moody atmosphere, using cross-hatching to create deep shadows that contrast with the lighter areas of the sky and the water. The inclusion of the bridge and the small boat in the foreground provides a sense of scale, grounding the architectural subject in the daily life of the city. Unlike his contemporaries who sought to capture the light and air of the French capital, Meryon was interested in the psychological weight of the city's history.

This print demonstrates his technical mastery of the copper plate. The lines are clean and deliberate, reflecting his training and his meticulous nature. The work captures the gothic revival spirit, presenting the architecture not merely as a physical object, but as a witness to the passage of time. The presence of scaffolding on the building suggests a moment of transition, capturing the city as it existed before the extensive Haussmann renovations altered its character. This etching remains a primary example of nineteenth-century printmaking, valued for its technical rigour and its atmospheric depiction of the Parisian urban environment.