Gezicht op de Eiffeltoren 1890 - 1898

Curator: Here we have a photograph titled "Gezicht op de Eiffeltoren," or "View of the Eiffel Tower," dating roughly between 1890 and 1898, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The photographer is Edouard Hautecoer. It's an albumen print, showcasing early architectural photography. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by how dreamlike it is, a very ethereal image. It has this beautiful sepia tone that softens the rigid lines of the tower and the urban landscape stretching behind it. I mean, the tower is imposing but the whole effect, feels quite delicate and, dare I say, romantic. Curator: It’s interesting you say that. The Eiffel Tower, then a fairly recent construction, quickly became symbolic not only of modernity but also of progress and ingenuity, representing a sort of secular transcendence. How does this photograph engage with these notions? Editor: Well, that delicacy almost makes the symbol itself more potent, doesn’t it? It feels almost nostalgic even though the tower was, at the time, brand new. There’s something about seeing this monument, that still defines the city to this day, shrouded in a classic sepia, makes you wonder what these towering feats will appear like in times to come. What future histories, what symbolisms will adhere to our modernity? Curator: Precisely. Early photography often sought to legitimize itself by mirroring painting, employing aesthetic compositions that referenced landscape art and portraiture. Notice here how Hautecoer captures a specific vista. The tower is monumental yet anchored within a recognizable urban space, with architectural buildings bordering the composition, as well as waterways, bridged walkways bustling with civilians… This photograph acts as a potent reminder of just how far we’ve come in architectural capabilities. Editor: Definitely. The symmetry in the structure below almost contrasts perfectly with the complex asymmetrical nature of the architectural construct that is the tower. Curator: And let’s consider the choice of albumen print. It’s not just a technical consideration; the subtle variations in tone and texture of the albumen itself contribute to the feeling you picked up on. The slight blurring, the softness of the image, it tempers the tower's hard edges. Editor: True. In that sense, perhaps the process becomes part of the message. It invites the viewer to reconsider what progress looks like and to look forward, all while hinting that any advancement casts a glance backwards as it seeks new footing in a reimagined landscape. I appreciate this early record as something inherently poetic. Curator: Indeed, Edouard Hautecoer provides us with an opportunity to view this icon, not simply as steel and ambition, but through the softer lens of memory and time. Editor: Beautiful. It’s a tower, yes, but here, it's a monument to thought.