View of Paris from Tour St. Jacques c. 1865

Curator: Looking at A. Ferrier’s “View of Paris from Tour St. Jacques,” circa 1865, an albumen print, I am struck by the ambition of capturing Paris so comprehensively, particularly during a period of intense urban transformation led by Haussmann. Editor: My first thought? What a dense and detailed visual record, almost overwhelmingly so! The eye darts around, trying to find a resting place amidst the sea of rooftops. It feels incredibly immersive, as if I'm perched right there. Curator: The image serves as an important document reflecting the modernization of Paris and the societal implications tied to this change. Consider the displacement of communities and the privileging of certain aesthetics and social structures during that time. Editor: It's like a stage set, a constructed reality more than just a slice of life, despite being photography. I’m reminded of those intricately layered theater backdrops. Maybe this resonates with me because it feels almost dreamlike; a tangible memory, but also very distant and stylized. The print gives off sepia tones, as a memory fading over time. Curator: Indeed. And Ferrier's choice to photograph from the Tour St. Jacques—a landmark associated with history and resilience—further underscores the photographic act as one consciously locating the new Paris within a narrative framework. This vantage point asserts particular power dynamics embedded in visibility and representation. Who gets to look at whom, and from where? Editor: The tower, so old and stoic, becomes a symbol of continuity amidst all the upheaval. Thinking of Haussmann, the image makes me ponder the costs associated with progress, like nostalgia in material form, frozen in time. Like this conversation, two time frames discussing this still memory. Curator: Precisely, an enduring point—a dialogue of past and present—encoded within the image itself. The ability to discuss photography so candidly in such context is remarkable. Editor: What I will continue to see in Ferrier's photograph is its ability to inspire contemplation. Paris is in our thoughts now.