Archives Scrapbooks

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Boston News-Clip Bureau, dated August 1, 1944. It is from the Christian Science Monitor, located in Boston, Massachusetts. The clipping features a drawing by Herman A. Webster, depicting a street in Rouen, France. The drawing shows a narrow, bustling street lined with tall, closely-packed buildings, some of which have timber framing and sloped roofs.

The accompanying text discusses the artist's experience in France, particularly in the Normandy region, which was then undergoing the turmoil of World War II. The author notes that while the area has been heavily impacted by the war, the charm of its medieval streets remains. The text highlights the artist's fascination with the narrow, winding streets of Rouen and the unique character of the buildings, with their high gables and intriguing windows. The author mentions the sense of mystery and history that permeates the area, making even a simple walk an enriching experience. The article concludes by emphasizing the enduring appeal of these old streets despite the war's devastation.

The image shows a page from a scrapbook or a clipping from the Christian Science Monitor, dated August 1, 1944. The page features a drawing titled "Street in Bourges or Rouen: A Drawing by Herman A. Webster," which depicts a narrow, medieval-style street lined with tall, half-timbered houses with steep, gabled roofs. The drawing is credited to the Courtesy of the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University.

Below the drawing, there is an article that begins with a description of the scene, suggesting that the street might be in either Bourges or Rouen, both historic cities in France. The article discusses the timeless quality of the street and its preservation, suggesting that such scenes may soon be lost due to the ongoing war. It also provides a vivid description of the architecture and the atmosphere of the street, emphasizing its historical charm and the sense of stepping back in time.

The image is a page from a newspaper clipping dated August 1, 1944, from the Christian Science Monitor in Boston, Massachusetts.

The clipping includes a black-and-white illustration titled "Street in Rouen or Bourges: A Drawing by Herman A. Webster." The drawing depicts an old, picturesque street lined with traditional buildings, showcasing a mix of architectural styles that are characteristic of medieval European towns.

The accompanying text describes the scene and context of the drawing:

Here we have an aspect of France which may still exist, which may have been swept away already in the path of war. The illustration is a sketch by Herman A. Webster, a well-known contemporary artist, who used in this case the pencil for his sketch. Even the authorities at the Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, Mass., have accepted his sketch as included in the Paul J. Sachs Collection. Webster drew a street in Rouen or Bourges, for we have the right to believe that the towns in north-western France, being in Normandy or Brittany, have dwelt on achingly of late.

And this city of Normandy there are still many of the old houses, full of the flavor of remote times. They have the old stone walls, the timber framing, the cobblestones, their high old houses are a little out of plumb, with beams uneven, gables sharply pointed, the windows arched doorways above worn stone thresholds. The old houses are in positions, flower-boxes, and in the narrow streets, and in the old church, the simple, simple—walking this way—than to feel our modern life.

And that is an experience, an experience of the past.

The photograph and text together evoke a sense of historical charm and a nostalgic look at traditional European architecture before the effects of war.

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Christian Science Monitor dated August 1, 1944. The clipping features an illustration titled "Street in Bourses on Rouen: A Drawing by Herman A. Webster." The illustration depicts a picturesque, historical street in Rouen, characterized by its distinctive timber-framed buildings.

The accompanying text discusses the artwork and its historical context. It mentions that Rouen, a city in Normandy, France, has a rich history, with the street depicted in the drawing likely having been destroyed by war. The sketch was created by Herman A. Webster, a contemporary artist, and was originally part of a purchase paper for the Fog Art Museum at Harvard University. The text highlights that Rouen, despite its wartime devastation, retains its old-world charm with its cobblestone streets and quaint, historical architecture.

The clipping is from the Boston News-Clip Bureau, located at 8 Beacon Street in Boston, Massachusetts.

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Christian Science Monitor dated August 1, 1944. The clipping features a drawing titled "Street in Bourges or Rouen," created by Herman A. Weber.

The drawing is a black-and-white sketch depicting a street scene in a European town, likely from the medieval period, with timber-framed buildings closely packed together. The caption beneath the drawing reads:

"Street in Bourges or Rouen: A Drawing by Herman A. Weber."

The accompanying text discusses the aspect of France that may still exist despite the ravages of war, referencing a drawing by Herman A. Weber. The text mentions that the artist used a sketch from the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, which is included in the Paul J. Sachs Collection. The sketch shows a street in Rouen or Bourges, cities in Normandy, which have remained largely unchanged despite the passage of time.

The article highlights the timeless and picturesque quality of these streets, noting their medieval architecture, with half-timbered houses, steeply pitched roofs, and narrow doorways. It describes the cobblestone streets and the overall charm of the scene, suggesting that walking these streets feels like stepping back in time, evoking a sense of the distant past.

The image is of a newspaper clipping from August 1944, provided by the Boston News-Clip Bureau for the Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, and other publications.

The article is titled "Street in Rouen: A Drawing by Herman A. Webster." It features a drawing of a street scene in Rouen, a historic city in northwestern France.

The text of the article discusses the familiarity and emotional resonance of this particular street for those who have visited or lived through the war years in France. The author reminisces about the street, noting that it might still exist or could have been destroyed during the war. The street depicted is identified as Rue du Gros-Horloge, a well-known location near the famous Gros-Horloge (Great Clock) and the Rouen Cathedral.

The author describes the unique and quaint architectural features of the street, with its high-roofed houses and sharply pointed archways, which are characteristic of old Normandy towns. The article reflects on the personal experience of walking through such streets and the sensory impressions they leave, such as the sound of wooden shoes on cobblestones, which evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and connection to the past. The drawing itself is credited to the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University.

The image shows an old newspaper clipping attached to a brown folder or scrapbook page. The header of the clipping includes the words "BOSTON NEWS-CLIP BUREAU" with the address beneath it, and "Christian Science Monitor Boston, Mass." to the right. There's a stamp or handwritten note indicating the date "AUG 1 1944". The title of the article is not fully visible, but the visible words include "HOME FRONT".

The main feature of the clipping is a reproduction of an artwork titled "Street in Bourges or Rouen: A Drawing by Herman A. Webster". The drawing depicts a quaint old European street lined with traditional houses, showcasing intricate architectural details and a sense of historical setting.

Under the drawing, there's a text that begins with "Here we have an aspect of France which may still exist, which may have been swept away already in the path of war. The sketch is from the pencil of Herman A. Webster, a well-known contemporary artist who died in this...(the rest is obscured)." It implies a commentary on the preservation or loss of historical architecture during wartime, with further details that continue below in the column.

The entire appearance suggests this is part of a personal or institutional collection, preserved for its historical or informational value.

The image shows a clipping from the Christian Science Monitor, dated August 1, 1944. It contains a black-and-white sketch of a street in the French town of Rouen, drawn by Herman A. Webster. The sketch depicts a narrow, cobblestone street with medieval buildings, high-rise houses, and arched doorways. The clipping also includes a brief description of the street and its historical significance, as well as a mention of the sketch being included in the collection of the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University.

The image depicts a historical newspaper clipping from the Christian Science Monitor, dated August 1, 1944. The clipping is part of the Boston News-Clip Bureau collection, as indicated by the header at the top. The clipping features an illustration titled "Street in Bourges on the River", created by Herman A. Webster.

Visual Elements:

1. Illustration:

   • The illustration shows a narrow, historic street lined with old buildings. The architecture suggests a medieval or Renaissance style, with tall, closely packed structures featuring steeply pitched roofs and narrow windows.
   • The street appears to be paved with cobblestones, and the overall atmosphere conveys a sense of age and charm, characteristic of European towns.
   • The illustration is monochromatic, likely a sketch or drawing, giving it an artistic and timeless quality.

2. Text:

   • Below the illustration, there is a descriptive caption that provides context about the scene. The text discusses the charm of Bourges, a city in France, and reflects on the historical and architectural beauty of its streets.
   • The caption emphasizes the narrow, winding nature of the streets, the old houses, and the overall ambiance that evokes a sense of the past. It also mentions the city's location along the River Cher and its significance in Normandy.
   • The text is written in a formal, reflective tone, typical of mid-20th-century journalism, and highlights the enduring appeal of such historic settings.

3. Header Information:

   • The top of the clipping includes the Boston News-Clip Bureau logo and address: "Belmont Street, Boston, Mass."
   • The date, August 1, 1944, is prominently displayed, situating the clipping in the context of World War II-era reporting.

4. Source Attribution:

   • At the bottom of the clipping, there is a note crediting the illustration to Herman A. Webster and mentioning that it is courtesy of the Page Art Museum, Harvard University. It also references the Christian Science Monitor as the original publication.

Contextual Notes:

• The clipping appears to be preserved as part of an archive, likely for historical or research purposes. The worn edges and the visible staple holes suggest it has been stored and handled over time.
• The content reflects a period when travel and exploration of European cities were often documented through illustrations and descriptive writing, especially during wartime when physical access to such locations might have been limited.

Overall, the image captures a blend of historical illustration, journalistic commentary, and archival preservation, offering a glimpse into mid-20th-century perspectives on European architecture and culture.

The image shows a clipping of an article from the Christian Science Monitor, published on August 1, 1944. The article is about a drawing of a street in Rouen, France, by Herman A. Webster, a well-known contemporary artist. The drawing is from the Fogg Art Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is part of the Sachs Collection. The article describes the street in Rouen as narrow, with rough cobblestones and high old houses with sharply pitched roofs. The street is lined with sharply pointed doorways and worn stone thresholds, flower boxes, and pre-possible positions. The article suggests that walking down the street is like taking a step back in time to the fifteenth century.