Gezicht op de Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel te Parijs before 1875

Editor: So, here we have Édouard Baldus' "Gezicht op de Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel te Parijs," a photographic print from before 1875, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. There's something so solid and still about it. I find my eyes drawn to the symmetry, the play of light and shadow. What story do you think it tells? Curator: What a marvel it is! For me, this piece isn't just a photograph; it's a time capsule. Think of Paris in the 1800s, a city burgeoning with change, a place that lives and breathes history, romance and intrigue all at once, a dream for anyone alive. And here stands this Arc de Triomphe, not merely as stone and structure, but as a symbol, of triumph (obviously!), of a nation's aspirations. Does it speak to you of that Neoclassical striving? Editor: Absolutely! I can definitely see the influence of Neoclassicism, especially in its... rigidity? Almost severe sense of order. But that contrasts with the softness of the light, somehow. I guess that’s what you mean by that tension of old meeting new, maybe? Curator: Precisely! It's a balance, or perhaps a delicious imbalance. The technical mastery Baldus brings is something of wonder. With him and this "print" we move into what became of contemporary reality! And consider the layers upon layers. What details really grab you? Is it the carvings, the urban space, something entirely separate? Editor: I think, looking closer, it's the sheer *scale* of everything. That really comes through, despite it only being a photo. Curator: Mmm, and for me, to see through his perspective—his technical approach to art—creates endless thought patterns for myself and that is how, ultimately, I judge all great art! Editor: I guess you are right, thinking about it that way, the artist does add another layer to this picture. This was amazing, thank you! Curator: Truly, my pleasure. There’s always more to discover, if you keep a curious heart!