“Stop and observe this charming lithograph of Rouen's famous Gros-Horloge, where everyday life unfolds beneath a historic landmark. Notice the artist's skill in capturing both architectural detail and the lively atmosphere of the street.”
This lithograph captures the historic Gros-Horloge (Great Clock) in Rouen, France, presenting it not as a grand monument but as an integral part of daily life. The intricate clock face, with its single hour hand and celestial motifs, is framed by the archway, drawing the eye through to the bustling street beyond. The scene is full of activity, with figures going about their day, their forms suggested by quick, confident lines. The artist used the lithographic process to create a rich interplay of light and shadow, particularly visible in the deep recesses of the arch and the textured surfaces of the ancient buildings. This particular print is part of a series, "Vingt Lithographies du Vieux Paris" (Twenty Lithographs of Old Paris), which explores various architectural landmarks and street scenes, offering a glimpse into the charm of early 20th-century French urban life.
- Artist
- Samuel Chamberlain
- Date
- 1924
- Medium
- Lithograph in black on cream wove paper
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The ornate golden clock face with its single hour hand.
The small figures passing through the archway and on the street.
The texture of the old stone buildings, suggested by varying line weights.
The subtle shading that gives depth to the arch and surrounding structures.
1 more detail is waiting.
See all 5 in Art Whisper →Samuel Chamberlain
1895–1975 · United StatesSamuel Chamberlain, also known as Phineas Beck, captured the intricate beauty of old European cities in his lithographs, like his 1924 series "Vingt Lithographies du Vieux Paris."
Further Works by Chamberlain
More works to explore
Beyond Chamberlain: works from the same years.
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray
Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Interior with painter
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1921 · Buchheim Museum of Imagination
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Memories of the Past
Ivan Puni · 1927 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
American Gothic
Okada Saburosuke · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Bull's Head
Mikhail Larionov · 1913 · Tretyakov Gallery
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Asiatic God
Paul Klee · 1924 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
The Three O'Clock Sitting
Henri Matisse · 1924 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Untitled (Birds)
Max Ernst · 1924 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
The Praying Jew
Marc Chagall · 1923 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
The Fiddler
Norman Rockwell · 1921 · Brandywine Museum of Art
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Abstraction: Background with Blue Cloudy Sky
Pablo Picasso · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
American Gothic
Grant Wood · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago



