Exterieur van het Château d'Anet in Dreux 1896

Here is Delizy’s photograph of the Exterior of the Château d'Anet in Dreux, an albumen print. Although the date of this image is unknown, photography in the 19th century became a means of documenting the transformation of European cities and countrysides. Delizy’s photograph captures the grandeur of French aristocracy. The Château d’Anet was commissioned in the 16th century by King Henry II for his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. In this way the Château is as much a declaration of power as a testament to love. Think of this Chateau as a reflection of class and gender dynamics: the King’s authority, his mistress’s influence, and the architectural prowess that embodies their combined status. Consider how the architecture, frozen in a photographic moment, silently speaks of those who inhabited it. This photograph is a portal into a world where power, desire, and artistry converge, shaping the spaces we still observe today.