Quai du Louvre c. 1930s

Édith-Claire Gérin shot "Quai du Louvre" sometime in the 20th century, and I’m already imagining the kind of camera she might have used. Here, light is almost a character in itself, dancing on the water and casting long shadows that stretch and distort familiar shapes. I’m wondering if Gérin was thinking about her own shadow while taking this picture, or what it felt like to be a woman walking alone in Paris. I wonder if she found photography empowering? It makes me think about how artists are always in dialogue, consciously or not, with those who came before and those who will follow, borrowing ideas, challenging conventions, and pushing the boundaries of their chosen medium. I love how photography, like painting, can hold so much space for ambiguity, inviting multiple interpretations, and letting us bring our own experiences to the act of seeing.