Gezicht op de Rue Saint-Martin in Doornik, België before 1864

Curator: Here we have a daguerreotype taken by L. Duchatel before 1864, titled “Gezicht op de Rue Saint-Martin in Doornik, België.” The work captures a street scene in Tournai, Belgium. Editor: The composition immediately strikes me. It's the strong verticality—the tall buildings drawing the eye straight upwards, a somewhat muted tonal range, adding to a somber atmosphere. Curator: It's a glimpse into a very specific moment in time. This image reflects not just the physical space, but also the evolving urban fabric and the way cities were being documented and understood in the mid-19th century. Street photography in its infancy! Editor: The receding perspective really creates depth despite the lack of color. Note how the light plays with the forms and creates definition; without it the buildings would become mere shadows. The scale seems incredibly modern to my eye, perhaps only due to photography removing the hand from art-making. Curator: I find myself wondering what life was like for the people living in this cityscape. Did photography shift urban development and prompt different reactions from the public? The choice of architecture is important—the grand medieval designs still very visible as a link to a richer cultural past, but it makes me ponder the changing urban policies that Duchatel himself might have seen! Editor: Absolutely, and Duchatel exploits the straight, low-angle of vision so as to play with height. And note the tonal gradation, dark to bright, pulling us gently upward towards the top of the tallest structures. The architecture also mirrors elements within other buildings – similar shapes repeat but it is never symmetrical, which makes for more visual interest than a rigid style ever could. Curator: Looking at Duchatel’s “Gezicht op de Rue Saint-Martin," it’s tempting to imagine him setting up his bulky camera on the street, drawing the gaze of any passersby, marking a critical development in documentary and art history. Editor: Ultimately, Duchatel's vision creates a study in formal structures rendered in various shades of grey that draws the viewer to reflect upon shape and texture and to simply appreciate the artistry of monochromatic design.