Gezicht op (vermoedelijk) Parijs before 1905

This unassuming print of what is thought to be Paris was made by Hippolyte Bayard, though the date is not known. This image is a great example of how something simple can open up a world of ideas. Look at the contrast. See how light and dark interplay here, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere, despite the diminutive scale of the photographic print. The tonality feels almost like a charcoal drawing, and you can see the hand of the artist in the way the tones are distributed to enhance certain areas of the scene. There's an area towards the upper center of the image, where the photographer has captured a structure with two towers. The detail in this small area gives this image a sense of scale and grandeur that is fascinating to observe. The work feels similar to the work of Eugène Atget, especially in its urban subject matter. But where Atget’s work is sharp and precise, Bayard’s is soft and dreamy, more like an impression of a memory. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about what you see, but how you see it.