Viaduc de Bandol 1859 - 1862

Edouard Baldus captured ‘Viaduc de Bandol’ using photography, a medium then in its relative infancy, during a period of massive infrastructure development in France. Baldus, as an artist with the sensibility of an architect, used the camera to document these structures and celebrate the modernization of France. What strikes me about this image is how Baldus frames the viaduct, not just as an achievement of engineering, but as a feature of the landscape. It emphasizes the scale of human ambition and its impact on the natural world. The bridge's arches create a rhythmic pattern which provide an interesting contrast to the organic forms of the surrounding trees and rocks. As you look at ‘Viaduc de Bandol,’ consider how it reflects the complex relationship between progress, landscape and national identity during the 19th century. It's a stunning picture of how human endeavor and the natural world intersect, shaping our perceptions of place and identity.