Versailles, L'Eau par Legras 1901

Eugène Atget, a pioneer of documentary photography, captured this serene scene at the Palace of Versailles in 1901. The image showcases a classical statue of a woman, possibly a nymph, standing on a pedestal in the gardens. The stark, yet detailed, depiction of the statue and its surroundings highlights Atget’s interest in recording the vanishing world of pre-modern Paris. The photograph, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to Atget's ability to transform everyday objects into captivating works of art.