Gipsmodellen voor kariatiden op het Palais du Louvre door François Jouffroy c. 1855 - 1857

This photograph from the mid-nineteenth century by Édouard Baldus, shows plaster models for caryatids on the Palais du Louvre in Paris, created by the French sculptor François Jouffroy. Baldus was commissioned to document the building of the New Louvre. This project was very important for Napoleon III, who wanted to modernize Paris and make it a symbol of imperial power. The image is part of a broader political agenda where photography plays a vital role in documenting and celebrating the state's achievements. The caryatids themselves, female figures serving as architectural support, are classical references meant to elevate the status of the building and by extension, the Empire. As art historians, we can delve into the archives to examine the commissioning process, the relationship between the photographer and the state, and the cultural context in which these images were produced and consumed. This gives us insight into the complex intersection of art, power, and ideology in mid-nineteenth century France.