Untitled c. 1850

This captivating albumen print is by Charles Marville, a photographer working in mid-19th century France. Although untitled, the photograph invites us into a serene lakeside scene that evokes a sense of leisure and privilege. During this era, photography was emerging as a powerful medium, not just for documentation, but also for shaping perceptions of modernity and class. Marville, known for his documentation of the changing urban landscape of Paris, here captures a different kind of space, one of recreation for the affluent. The boats, the manicured trees, and the boathouse all suggest a carefully constructed environment for leisure. But who is being offered this leisure, and at whose expense? The calm surface of the water mirrors not just the trees, but also the social structures of the time. It encourages us to reflect on the relationship between landscape, leisure, and social class, and how these images subtly reinforce societal norms.