St. Cloud 1904

This photograph, St. Cloud, by Eugène Atget, is a quiet symphony in brown ink on paper. It’s intimate, just under 8 x 9 inches; you can almost hold this moment in your hand. I wonder, was Atget lugging a large format camera up these very stairs? I can imagine him adjusting the lens, carefully composing the symmetrical cascade of steps, the ornate vases perched like punctuation marks. The light is soft, the shadows muted, yet every brick and leaf seems to hold its breath. It reminds me of those early Corots, but with a camera instead of a brush. There’s a real sense of solitude. I wonder if he felt that, too, wandering the park with his equipment, seeking out these small, quiet corners. It's like he's whispering, "Look closer." That’s what artists do for each other, really – show us how to see the world in a new way.