Théâtre Romain à Arles 1857 - 1860

"Théâtre Romain à Arles" (1857–1860) by French photographer Édouard Baldus is a striking example of 19th-century architectural documentation. The photograph captures the ruins of a Roman theatre in Arles, France, with crumbling columns, stone arches, and a towering spire of a medieval church in the distance. The image's clarity and composition, showcasing the dramatic contrast between the grandeur of the ancient past and the contemporary landscape, reflects the artistic movement of Pictorialism. This work, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Baldus's significant contributions to early photography and the documentation of historical sites.