LACMA’s, “City of Cinema: Paris” explores vivid images of lively Parisian art

Peering into the night: A man stands on Saint Lazare station that crosses over a monumental bridge in France peering at the first stage of the Eiffel Tower’s construction. Gustave Caillebotte’s “On the Pont de L’Europe” shows a view of simplicity and the beauty that can be seen through it. Photo Courtesy of Joylynn Lee/La Vista

By Joylynn Lee

Arts Editor

LACMA opened the “City of Cinema: Paris” to the public on Feb. 20, exhibiting an exceptional look at 19th-century Parisian art.

“City of Cinema: Paris” showcases Parisian art to tell a story about the wave of social politics and technological advancements that led to the invention of film in the 19th century. Each artist illustrates a storyline on how citizens of Paris developed into spectators of this ingenious invention.

The exhibit features Parisian artists that show artistic brilliance through each displayed piece of art. One of the unique additions to this exhibit is the vast amount of distinct artists that have their work held up to the audience instead of just a few emphasized artists.

“Diorama of the Camposanto in Pisa” is one of the most spectacular and illuminating pieces in “City of Cinema: Paris.” This piece was painted by Louis Daguerre, who used optics, lights, and other artistic techniques that modernize the art due to its 3D visuals. This piece allows the viewer to romanticize with its marvelous drawings of architecture, and the additional sunset light hitting perfectly on each corner of the piece gives the audience a jaw dropping experience.

Théophile Féau’s “The Eiffel Tower under Construction” is another exquisite piece that is currently being displayed since it provides a step-by-step drawing of the Eiffel Tower being built. Each stage of the Eiffel Tower was recorded in dates, such as “14 October 1888, 14 November 1888, 26 December 1888.” With every recorded image of the Eiffel Tower being built, Féau allows viewers to feel a majestic feeling as if the audience were living around this time.

“The Galerie des Machines,” designed by Joseph-Anoine Bouvard, is full of vivid color and national diversity. The people portrayed in this piece are from all around the world, such as North Africa and England, who are coming to Paris to see the architectural beauty of the Eiffel Tower for the first time. Bouvard flawlessly presents this piece by drawing hundreds of people with a memorable amount of detail.

Besides vividly colorful pieces, this exhibit also displays “Homeless,” which is one of Fernand Pelez’s prodigious and heartfelt pieces. Instead of painting only the luxurious side of France, Pelez turns his attention to the impoverished side by drawing a homeless widow with her children that sparks a simple story that living in Paris during the 19th century wasn’t exactly how many visualize it to be.

“City of Cinema: Paris” shows how photography was an important part of the historical entertainment progression. Each art piece that was held up in this exhibit illustrates periods of fine art in the two sides of Paris, like the romanticized side and the downtrodden side during that century.

This exhibit also traces the beauty of the revolutionary invention of film. Due to each artists’ unique and beautiful vision, an entire storyline can be played out. These 19th century Parisian artists show their mesmerizing artistic talent by using advanced art like optical illusions and humane emotional art to connect with the audience, like Pelez’s fervent piece.

LACMA’s “City of Cinema: Paris” is open to the public until July 10. Tickets can be purchased with proof of vaccination status through lacma.org