Architecture II (Tour de Babel)

Roger Vieillard

Vieillard was inspired to do this print after walking beneath the Eiffel Tower and his alternative title is "Tour de Babel." He drew the tower from the inside as it soars to the sky, architectural elements supporting each other with fragility. The image brings to mind Piranesi's Carceri series and Escher's strange, interwoven structures.

Hacker notes about this image: "A nice detail is added by a minute 'penseur', seated on a pilaster at top left 'contemplating the absurdity of it all'.

Vieillard's work was represented in the important 1944 exhibition "Hayter and Studio 17" mounted at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibition included sixty prints by thrity-two artists from twelve nations.

This rare Surrealist print was made at Atelier 17 in Paris in 1936 and is from the collection of Atelier 17 artist Cathal O'Toole.