Raoul Varin

Raoul Varin was an artist known primarily for his high-quality prints documenting historical street scenes and architecture of Chicago. His documented active period spanned a concise timeframe between 1926 and 1928. Varin’s works operate as meticulous visual records, capturing specific moments in Chicago's urban development prior to major alterations, often emphasizing the exact year of the scene within the title.

Eleven of the artist's prints are represented in institutional holdings. The body of work focuses intensely on the city's downtown commercial and residential areas during the 1860s. Key examples of these Raoul Varin prints include A View of Michigan Avenue from Randolph Street in the Year 1865, Michigan Avenue at the Foot of Madison Street, Chicago, with a view of the Illinois Central Station in the Year 1864, and the architectural representation of the Sherman House, Clark and Randolph Streets, Erected in 1860-61, Chicago.

The core collection of Varin's historical documentation is preserved at the Art Institute of Chicago. His technique favors precision and historical detail, treating the cityscape as a subject for careful preservation. Due to the age of the works, some of Varin’s output is available in the public domain, providing researchers and enthusiasts access to downloadable artwork for non-commercial study.