Versailles, Grille du Chateau 1906

Eugène Atget captured this image of the iron gate at Versailles, using the photographic processes available at the turn of the 20th century. The ironwork itself is a feat of handcraft. The ironworker would have heated the metal until it was red hot and then shaped it with hammers and tongs, using an anvil as their primary work surface. Consider the laborious process required to produce the fine tendrils, leaves, and decorative flourishes. These elements give the iron its rococo character, embodying the luxury and excess associated with the French monarchy. The photograph freezes the ironwork in time, but it also reminds us of the social conditions that made such displays possible. The stark contrast between the opulence of Versailles and the labor required to build it encourages us to reflect on the economic disparities inherent in its creation. Atget invites us to examine how class structures and artistic expression intertwine, questioning the boundaries of art and craft.