Les nénuphars (Waterlilies) before 1900

Editor: This is Eugène Atget’s photograph, "Les nénuphars," depicting water lilies. The stark contrast between the dark reeds and the delicate pads is quite striking. What stands out to you? Curator: I'm drawn to the physicality of the photographic process here. Consider the materials: the glass plate negative, the silver gelatin print. How do these choices affect our perception of nature, making it a commodity? Editor: That’s a really interesting point. It’s not just the image, but the entire production process. Curator: Precisely. Atget documented a changing Paris. This photo can be seen as capturing a disappearing natural resource. He transformed something ephemeral into a durable object. Editor: I never thought about it that way, as a form of preservation through material transformation! Curator: Thinking about the materials and processes gives the photograph a new perspective.