Villa in Parijs, ontworpen door Stephen Sauvestre before 1880

This is a photograph of a villa in Paris designed by Stephen Sauvestre, captured by Lampué et Cie. The photographic process itself is key to understanding this image. It was a labor-intensive process, involving the careful manipulation of chemicals and equipment to capture and develop the image. Photography in this era was not the point-and-shoot affair we know today, but a deliberate act of image-making that required skill and precision. The choice of black and white tonality lends a timeless quality to the image, emphasizing the architectural details of the villa. The image is also a product of the social context of its time. It reflects the growing interest in documenting architectural achievements. This photograph serves as a historical record, preserving the memory of a specific time, place, and architectural style. Understanding the materiality and making of this photograph, we can appreciate its dual role as both a work of art and a historical document.