Thirty-Six Views of the Eiffel Tower: From the Quai de Grenelle - Henri Rivière

A lithograph from Henri Rivière's series documenting the Eiffel Tower, featuring a scene of industrial activity along the Seine in a style influenced by Japanese woodblock prints.

Henri Rivière produced his series, Thirty-Six Views of the Eiffel Tower, between 1888 and 1902. This collection draws inspiration from the ukiyo-e tradition, specifically the works of Hokusai. Rivière adopts the Japanese approach to composition, using flat planes of colour and simplified forms to document the changing appearance of the Eiffel Tower against the Parisian skyline.

In this specific print, From the Quai de Grenelle, the artist captures a scene of industrial labour along the Seine. A large crane dominates the mid-ground, while workers and horse-drawn carts manage piles of sand in the foreground. The Eiffel Tower appears in the distance, rendered with minimal detail, acting as a constant presence in the urban environment. The muted palette and clean lines reflect the influence of woodblock printing techniques, adapted here for the medium of lithography.

Rivière was a key figure in the Chat Noir cabaret circle, where his interest in shadow puppetry and graphic design informed his visual language. His work provides a record of Paris during a period of rapid modernisation. By placing the tower within the context of everyday work, he avoids the monumental treatment often afforded to the structure by his contemporaries. The print demonstrates a balance between the geometric precision of the tower and the organic, textured forms of the riverbank. It is a study of light, atmosphere, and the intersection of traditional industry with new engineering.