Carte photographique de la lune, planche XXII.A (Photographic Chart of the Moon, plate XXII.A) Possibly 1905 - 1914

Charles Le Morvan produced this photographic print of the moon, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. During this period, the moon served as a focal point for both scientific inquiry and imaginative exploration. Photography was increasingly used in astronomy, valued for its objectivity compared to hand-drawn illustrations. Yet, this image transcends mere scientific documentation. In Le Morvan's photographic chart, we are invited to consider the moon's surface not just as a landscape of craters, but as a mirror reflecting our own human desire to explore and map the unknown. It invites us to reflect on how we project our aspirations onto celestial bodies. As you gaze at the photograph, think about the historical context in which it was created, an era of rapid technological advancement and the growing drive for exploration. What does this image suggest about our relationship to the universe?