Le manège ou la Place Blanche à Paris Circa 1920

In this luminous Belle Époque scene, Manuel Robbe turns his refined eye to Place Blanche, one of Paris's most animated quarters, located at the foot of Montmartre and famed for its proximity to the Moulin Rouge. Titled Le Manège (The Carousel), this circa 1920 aquatint engraving captures the joy and energy of Parisian street life at dusk.

Rendered in delicate layers of aquatint and soft-ground etching, the scene is rich in atmospheric contrasts: elegant women in feathered hats and flowing skirts gather under glowing orbs of artificial light, while children and carriages animate the cobbled streets. The background dissolves into dusky shadows, evoking the dreamlike quality of twilight in the city of lights.

Robbe’s subtle use of color aquatint is especially striking here. His choice of pale rose, powder blue, and creamy whites against a deep black night gives this impression both a festive and nostalgic tone—celebrating a time when Paris was the cultural epicenter of modern life.

Le Manège is a vibrant and elegant record of a bygone Paris, where fashion, leisure, and urban spectacle blend into a moment of eternal charm. A beautiful and rare piece for collectors of early 20th-century French printmaking.

Aquatint

Paris - 42 x 59.5 cm - Hand-signed by the artist

Good condition, slight soiling