Gezicht op een viaduct, vermoedelijk in de Auvergne 1902

Curator: At first glance, there's something incredibly ethereal about this gelatin-silver print, a "View of a Viaduct, probably in the Auvergne," dating back to 1902. The atmosphere just swirls and envelops the stonework. Editor: That mist is what struck me too. It feels romantic, almost theatrical. Like a stage set for a grand, slightly melancholic play. The cool tones enhance that sensation for me. Curator: Precisely. The photographer, Delizy, beautifully captures that turn-of-the-century mood. It’s interesting to note how the industrial – the viaduct itself – becomes almost secondary to the sublime nature around it. The print quality makes it look both solid and fragile. Editor: You can see, even within what we might now call "infrastructure photography," a conversation about progress and nature's indifference. Look how nature just casually surrounds it. Are we to admire human ingenuity, or tremble before the overpowering landscape? The contrast is masterfully depicted. Curator: And that location choice. Auvergne at the time, was quite wild. It suggests a yearning for…something lost perhaps? The scale is humbling, both human construction dwarfed by the surrounding hills and valleys. Delizy seemed to have created a timeless portrait of transience within a massive geologic time frame. Editor: The monochrome definitely underscores that sense of fading. The bridge still exists; humanity always seeks connection. It makes me consider the viaduct in relation to movement. People using that method of transportation and seeking connections is what ties the piece to humanity, or a longing to create that connection. It is really quite lovely when one thinks of it this way. Curator: A poignant point. Delizy wasn't just recording; they were contemplating. Editor: Agreed. And now, so are we.