Chateau de Murol en Auvergne Possibly 1852 - 1978

Edouard Baldus made this photograph, Chateau de Murol en Auvergne, sometime in the mid-19th century, and he's working with some pretty muted tones, a kind of monochrome vibe that really lets the textures speak. It makes me think about how, even without bright colors, a process can be so rich. Looking at the craggy surfaces of the castle, I notice how the light catches every nook and cranny. It's amazing how the texture almost becomes the subject. I mean, check out the way the stone is rendered – you can practically feel the rough edges. And the sky? It's like a soft, hazy blanket that makes the castle pop even more. Thinking about Baldus, he reminds me of other architectural photographers like Bernd and Hilla Becher, who were all about documenting structures with such a keen eye for detail. This photograph isn't just a picture; it's a conversation about seeing, feeling, and experiencing a place through an image.