Versailles, Fontaine de Diane (Detail) 1901

Eugène Atget's 1901 photograph, "Versailles, Fontaine de Diane (Detail)," captures a sculptural detail of the Fontaine de Diane, a fountain at the Palace of Versailles. The image focuses on a lion sculpture, its powerful form and textured surface rendered in sharp detail by Atget's camera. The lion's pose, its paws firmly planted on the fountain's rim, conveys a sense of both strength and stillness. Atget's work, often considered documentary photography, provides a glimpse into the grandeur of French architecture and the history embedded in its details. This photo is an example of Atget's "Documents pour artistes," a collection of photographs intended to serve as reference material for artists.