The Pont du Carrousel, Paris: View to the West from the Pont des Arts 1856 - 1858

"The Pont du Carrousel, Paris: View to the West from the Pont des Arts" is a striking example of a calotype, a photographic process invented by Henry Fox Talbot, by the famed French photographer Gustave Le Gray. The photograph captures a panoramic view of the Seine River in Paris, with the Pont du Carrousel bridge in the foreground and the Louvre Palace in the background. Taken between 1856-1858, it showcases Le Gray's mastery of capturing the details of the urban landscape with remarkable clarity and depth. The image's stark contrasts, achieved through Le Gray's innovative use of the calotype process, highlight the architectural features of the bridge and the palace, giving the image a timeless quality.