Openhaard in de emaille zaal in het Musée de Cluny te Parijs 1850 - 1900

Méderic Mieusement created this albumen print of the fireplace in the Musée de Cluny in Paris sometime in the late 19th century. Here, we see the convergence of artistic practice, institutional display, and the burgeoning field of photography, all reflecting the cultural values of the time. Mieusement's photograph captures not just a fireplace but a carefully curated display within a museum setting. The Musée de Cluny, dedicated to medieval art, became a stage where objects like this fireplace were imbued with new meanings. The photograph itself served as a means of disseminating the museum's collection, reaching audiences beyond its physical walls. France in the late 19th century was preoccupied with preserving its historical heritage. The rise of museums and photography played significant roles in shaping collective memory and national identity. To fully understand the image, one might turn to museum archives, photographic journals, and social histories of 19th-century France. This is how we contextualize the artistic and cultural significance of this image.