Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: "La Vérité et l'Histoire" door Joseph Félon c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus created this photograph of plaster models for sculptures at the Palais du Louvre using a salted paper print. The image presents a study in contrasts. The stark white background sharply defines the curving forms of the plaster models, emphasizing their classical lines and textures. The composition, split into two mirrored segments, creates a visual dialogue between the figures of "Truth" and "History" by Joseph Félon. The symmetry invites us to reflect on how these concepts—truth and history—are constructed and perceived. Is truth a singular, static entity, or is it shaped and interpreted through the lens of history? Baldus's photograph, through its formal structure, prompts questions about the nature of representation and the interplay between objective reality and subjective interpretation. The photograph's cool tones and precise detail evoke a sense of detached observation, characteristic of the documentary style prevalent in the mid-19th century.