Etude de ciel 1855 - 1856

"Etude de ciel" (1855-56) by Charles Marville captures the ethereal beauty of a cloudy sky. This black and white photograph, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, showcases the artist's keen eye for detail and his mastery of light and shadow. The dramatic clouds, rendered in a range of grays, dominate the composition, while the silhouette of a building adds a sense of scale and perspective. Marville's work, often characterized by its architectural and urban subjects, exemplifies the aesthetic sensibilities of 19th-century photography. The simplicity and elegance of the composition make this print a powerful example of the medium's artistic potential.