Joueurs de vielle 1850 - 1853

Editor: This is *Joueurs de vielle* by Louis-Désiré Blanquart-Évrard, a gelatin silver print made sometime between 1850 and 1853. It depicts two young musicians with their instruments on a cobbled street, and the light is soft, creating an intimate scene. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: It's fascinating to consider Blanquart-Évrard's choice of medium here. He was a pioneer in photography, but using the gelatin silver process at this time—why this technology to capture what feels like a staged street scene? It invites us to examine the labor involved not just in the subject matter, the boys and their hurdy-gurdies, but also the photographic process itself. How did the rise of photography impact the livelihoods of artists? Editor: That’s a good point. Did photography democratize art, or did it further commodify it? Was Blanquart-Évrard trying to document or to create something for the market? Curator: Precisely. We must also consider the materials involved: the silver, the gelatin, the paper. Where did these come from, and under what conditions were they produced? Understanding the means of production offers a counter-narrative to the romantic, almost picturesque, scene. Editor: So you are saying the very nature of photography challenged traditional hierarchies between art and industry, art and labor? Curator: Absolutely. By focusing on the material conditions and production, we move beyond simply admiring the image and start questioning its role in the larger economic and social context. Were these children from wealthy families, or was playing music how they earned their keep? Did the rise of photography threaten the livelihood of street musicians, or was it seen as a potential patron of the arts? These are some good points to take away from viewing Blanquart-Évrard’s gelatin silver print. Editor: I hadn’t considered that angle before. Seeing it as an intersection of art, labor, and materials gives the photo so much more meaning. Thanks!