Address-card of the printseller, Rochoux

Art Historical Context

Step into the intricate world of 19th Parisian printmaking with *Address-card of the prints, Rochoux* (1855), a delicate etching created by Charles Meryon collaboration with Rochoux and printed by Auguste Delâtre. small-scale gem, measuring just 3 5/8 x 4 11/16 inches, served as a clever business card for the printseller Rochoux, commerce with artistry. Featuring lively vignettes of men, women, horses—likely evoking the bustling energy of mid-century France—it captures everyday life in a format both functional and finely wrought. Meryon, a master etcher renowned for his haunting views of Paris during the etching revival, employed a sophisticated technique here: printing from two plates in the first state of five. This rare early impression reveals the meticulous process of layering tones and details, showcasing the medium's potential for nuance and depth on a miniature canvas. Etching allowed artists like Meryon to achieve exquisite line work rivaling painting, making prints accessible yet collectible. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1917, this work from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department highlights the intersection of art and entrepreneurship in 1850s Paris, where innovative printsellers like Rochoux promoted emerging talents. A testament to technical virtuosity, it invites visitors to appreciate the hidden artistry in the everyday.

About the Artist

Charles Meryon|Rochoux|Auguste Delâtre · 1821–1868

Charles Meryon, born on November 23, 1821, in Paris, was the illegitimate son of English physician Dr. Charles Lewis Meryon and dancer Pierre-Narcisse Chaspoux (stage name Narcisse Gentil) at the Paris Opéra. His half-sister Fanny, from his mother's prior relationship with Viscount Lowther, remained in contact after their mother's death in 1838. Raised partly outside Paris before attending Pension...