Les fruits
1865
Edmond Morin's 1865 illustration creates a delightful visual journey of produce from the countryside to the bustling city. At the top, a rustic harvest scene shows workers climbing ladders in an orchard, set against distant mountains. This rural life flows down into a panoramic view of Paris, featuring the iconic Notre Dame cathedral along the Seine River where boats are docked. In the foreground, a lavish display of grapes and melons spills out, with the word "FRUITS" playfully integrated into the foliage, while a woman pushes a wheelbarrow along the riverbank, likely heading to market. It's a charming snapshot of 19th-century French life, beautifully connecting rural labor with urban consumption.