Rue De La Montagne-sainte-genevievè 

Eugène Atget made this photograph using a large format camera and glass plate negatives, common techniques in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The final sepia tone print is created through a process involving chemical development and printing onto photographic paper. The image captures a slice of Parisian life on Rue De La Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève, emphasizing the architecture and urban environment. Atget’s focus on the texture and material of the buildings, cobblestone streets, and stone steps, provides a glimpse into the physical reality of the city. The peeling paint on the buildings and the worn surfaces of the street suggest the passage of time and the impact of daily life. Atget’s work is significant because he documented the everyday aspects of Paris, preserving a record of its urban landscape and material culture during a period of rapid change. His photographs bridge the gap between fine art and documentary, highlighting the importance of materials, making, and context in understanding the social and cultural fabric of a city.