Maison de Campagne Possibly 1842 - 1965

"Maison de Campagne" (Country House), a calotype photograph taken by Hippolyte Bayard sometime between 1842 and 1965, depicts a simple, rural home. The image, now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, showcases the early development of photography, captured in a detailed yet slightly hazy representation of the subject. The rustic, half-timbered facade of the house, the fence, and the surrounding greenery are all rendered in a monochromatic palette, characteristic of the calotype process. Bayard's work is considered significant in the history of photography, and this image exemplifies his keen observation and mastery of the medium.