Tarascon 1850 - 1854

Charles Nègre made this photograph of Tarascon in France using a waxed paper negative, a relatively new technology in the mid-nineteenth century. The image presents a medieval castle, a potent symbol of France's feudal past. Yet Nègre’s choice of photography, a decidedly modern medium, invites us to consider how the past is preserved, represented, and perhaps even romanticized in an era of rapid industrialization. Photography was initially championed as an objective medium, capable of capturing reality with unprecedented accuracy. However, Nègre’s composition, with its careful arrangement of light and shadow, reveals the photographer’s hand. This manipulation underscores the idea that all representations of the past are mediated through the cultural and technological frameworks of the present. To better understand Nègre’s artistic choices and the cultural context in which he worked, one might consult photographic journals and historical society records. These resources could reveal the contemporary debates about photography's role in documenting and interpreting history.