Versailles, Vase par Ballin 1905

This photograph of a vase at Versailles was captured by Eugène Atget in the early 20th century. I love the way the whole image is muted. It's like it’s seen through time and dust. I imagine Atget, setting up his camera, carefully framing this ornate vase. He’s capturing not just an object, but a piece of history, a relic of a bygone era of opulence and power. The vase itself, with its intricate carvings and stately form, feels like a character in a play. It’s solid, but also soft, with the way that the light falls upon its surface. There's a stillness to the image, a sense of quiet contemplation, but it's not silent. It's more like a whisper of stories, a reminder of the countless hands that have shaped and cared for this object. As artists, we're all in conversation, constantly borrowing and reinterpreting the ideas of those who came before us. This photograph is a testament to that ongoing dialogue.