Toren op het Pavillon de Rohan c. 1857

Curator: This photograph, “Tower on the Pavillon de Rohan,” taken around 1857 by Édouard Baldus, showcases a section of the Louvre. It's an albumen print, so what strikes you immediately? Editor: The sepia tone lends a quiet, almost ghostly quality. It's grand, certainly, but there’s a melancholy feel that makes you think of lost empires and faded glories. Is that just me? Curator: Not at all. Baldus often captured these cityscapes right as Paris was undergoing massive transformation. Think of the rebuilding projects under Napoleon III and Haussmann. This tower represents old power structures in a moment of transition, even threat. Editor: I can sense that. The tight cropping and upward gaze create a sense of reverence but also confinement. Look at the architectural details—the sculptures, the dome—all signaling authority. It's not just a beautiful building, it's making a statement about power. What are your thoughts on the technical aspect? Curator: Baldus was a master of architectural photography. Notice the clarity and detail, despite the challenges of early photographic processes. He used a large-format camera, which allowed for incredible resolution. He's really interested in light, capturing the way it falls across the stone, accentuating texture. Editor: I wonder, who was this for? Were these images intended to document progress, celebrate power, or simply sell to tourists eager to take a piece of Paris home? Maybe it speaks to all of these layers at once. Curator: Exactly! And within this beautiful composition, we find complex intersections of class, authority, urban planning. The way this monument asserts itself against a seemingly boundless sky still prompts reflections about its place in that changing moment of modernity. Editor: Definitely! These glimpses into a moment of change makes you consider what the photographer intended the audience to gain from viewing the photograph. It leaves you in an intriguing position. Curator: Agreed. The beauty is undeniable but leaves a nagging question on if that it all that it offers to the modern eye. It definitely gives a lot to think about.