The Seine at Rouen 1843

"The Seine at Rouen" (1843) by William Henry Fox Talbot is a calotype photograph that captures the bustling riverfront of Rouen, France. This early example of photographic art showcases Talbot's mastery of the calotype process, a method he pioneered that produced images on paper. The image reveals the detail of the ships docked along the Seine, the buildings lining the riverbank, and the stacked barrels in the foreground, demonstrating the potential of photography to capture the reality of everyday life.