Place Saint-Sulpice Possibly 1842 - 1965

Hippolyte Bayard made "Place Saint-Sulpice," using a direct positive process, resulting in a one-of-a-kind image. The sepia tones give it a timeless feel, like a memory fading at the edges. Look at the fountain and the building. The stone textures are so clear, you can almost feel the grit. Then notice the way the light catches the columns, creating a play of shadows. It's like Bayard is inviting us to consider how light itself becomes a kind of building material. I am drawn to the blurry figure near the left side of the frame, a ghostly presence. This lack of clarity stands in contrast to the sharp, static architecture. It makes you think about time and movement. The photograph brings to mind Atget’s photographs of Paris. Both capture a specific time, but also something more elusive. With both artists, their work invites us to see the world as something always in flux.