Gezicht op Nice 1861 - 1862

Louis Crette captured this image of Gezicht op Nice using photography sometime in the mid-19th century. The photograph presents a panoramic view where soft sepia tones evoke a sense of distance. Here, Crette directs our gaze through a series of horizontal layers: from the detailed foreground structures, across the urban sprawl of Nice, to the hazy mountains in the background. The composition emphasizes a structured layering of space, yet it lacks sharp contrasts, creating a unified but somewhat flattened visual field. The muted palette and even lighting reduce the sense of depth, challenging traditional landscape painting's illusionism. This effect transforms the town into a network of forms, rather than a collection of distinct locations. In this way, Crette's photograph not only captures the appearance of Nice but also prompts reflection on the changing perception and representation of space in the industrial age.