Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: links "La Guerre" door Augustin Alexandre Dumont en rechts "La Paix" door Antoine Etex c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus created this photograph of plaster models for sculptures in the Palais du Louvre. Notice how the artist arranges two separate images on a single plane, setting up a visual dialogue between the contrasting themes of war and peace. On the left, a cherubic figure leans casually against a panoply of war, with spears and shields meticulously arranged to convey a sense of martial readiness. To the right, the cherub’s counterpart stands next to symbols of peace and prosperity. Baldus invites us to consider the visual elements that define each state. The composition, though balanced, presents a subtle tension between the active lines of warfare and the softer, more rounded forms associated with peace. Consider how Baldus uses the photographic medium to explore the sculptural forms. The monochrome palette emphasizes texture and shape, abstracting the sculptures from their potential allegorical weight. This allows us to see them as arrangements of form, challenging the viewer to unpack the cultural codes that define such concepts.