Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: links "Le Printemps" door Noémi Constant en rechts "Le Bois" door Auguste Poitevin c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus captured these plaster models for sculptures at the Palais du Louvre in this photograph. Notice how the texture and tone of the photograph, a warm sepia, emphasizes the detailed surfaces of the plaster models, inviting a tactile experience through the visual medium. The composition, organized into distinct, framed images, presents a study in contrasts. The sculptures, one symbolizing "Spring" and the other "The Woods," embody classical allegories, yet Baldus's photographic approach introduces a modern sensibility through its stark presentation. The light captures the form of cherubic figures set against dense foliage, each carefully posed. They are arranged in such a way that the artist controls the narrative and offers distinct interpretations of nature. Baldus, through his lens, doesn't just document art; he reframes classical forms. He engages in a dialogue about representation and the evolving perception of art in the industrial age.