Dak van het Pavillon Turgot van het Palais du Louvre c. 1857

Edouard Baldus captured this photograph of the roof of the Pavillon Turgot at the Palais du Louvre, using a calotype, a process that renders images in soft, sepia tones. Here, Baldus focuses our attention on the architectural details of the Louvre's roof, emphasizing the play of light and shadow on its sculpted surfaces. The composition is dominated by strong geometric forms. The steep lines of the roof, contrasted with the rectangular window, create a structured yet dynamic visual field. The photograph is not just a document but also a study in form. The symmetrical arrangement of statues and decorative elements around the central window speaks to a formal order, yet the variations in texture and tone disrupt any sense of rigid uniformity. Baldus’ choice to isolate this architectural fragment allows us to consider it as a constructed image with its own intrinsic aesthetic qualities. The photograph itself becomes an object of contemplation, inviting us to consider the interplay between representation and abstraction, and to see the built environment through a lens of artistic interpretation.