Félix Hilaire Buhot, Winter in Paris, Snow in Paris, 1879, etching, aquatint, and drypoint on paper. The Clark, 1968.293

Prints that feature cities as their primary subject may appear as though they were made with uncompromising objectivity. However, artists often portrayed cities in individualized ways by highlighting some sites and urban characteristics while concealing others. These artistic choices influenced how the general public interpreted those cities. Prints had the potential to inform viewers who had not visited a particular city about its culture, customs, and inhabitants. For those who had been to that city, images could shape their memory of the place depicted.