Notre-Dame te Parijs 1887 - 1900

Curator: This photograph, simply titled "Notre-Dame te Parijs," captures the iconic cathedral sometime between 1887 and 1900. We know the artist only as "X phot." Editor: The sepia tone gives it such a melancholy feel, almost like a forgotten memory. The framing emphasizes the immense scale of the architecture. Curator: It's a remarkable document of its time. Note how photography, especially within impressionism, challenged established painting styles, offering a new lens for cityscapes. Its creation as a print implies it was destined for a wider circulation. The materials would've likely involved mass-produced photographic paper. Editor: I am thinking about the socio-political factors in late 19th century Paris, with rapid industrialization and urbanization. The choice to depict Notre-Dame, a symbol of the old order, maybe reflects a dialogue between tradition and modernity playing out in the city's cultural landscape. Curator: Indeed. And think about the labor involved in producing multiple prints. This "X phot," whoever they were, participated in a market, catering to an emerging desire for accessible imagery. Was this considered high art or a souvenir? The answer blurs those lines. Editor: Exactly! Also, who was X phot and who did they hope to reach? Its function as both artistic expression and as a visual record opens doors to how the cultural elite interacted with landmarks during this period. Was it accessible to working class folks, or more of an indication of upper class tastes? Curator: I think the question is accessibility is a very important one here, pointing to a growing appetite for image consumption linked to rising disposable incomes within certain segments of society. Editor: Looking at this again, you notice how deserted everything is and one wonders what effect this impression had, even at the time. Now of course it only enhances the feeling, so now the context has even shifted further. Fascinating! Curator: It has been such a pleasure looking closer at the photograph and discussing what its place was as part of this time. Editor: Likewise, it brings a lot to think about its implications for us here and now.