Doksaal van de Kathedraal van Chartres 1880 - 1910

This photograph of the choir screen of Chartres Cathedral was captured by Adolphe Giraudon in the late 19th or early 20th century. Giraudon has focused on the elaborate sculptural program that adorns the screen, which is made of stone. Photography was a relatively new medium at this time, but it had already begun to influence the way people saw the world and, critically, how they approached craft and art objects. The photograph flattens the three-dimensional space of the screen, emphasizing its intricate carving and design. But consider the labor required to create it. Each figure was likely carved individually, assembled, and refined. The material of the stone itself carries geological time, transformed by the skills of masons, sculptors, and architects. By documenting this remarkable feat of craftsmanship through photography, Giraudon highlights the intersection of artistic vision and collective labor, raising questions about the role of the individual artist versus the community of makers. It’s a reminder that even in works of art, we are seeing the efforts of many hands.