Gezicht op het Château-Dauphin in Pontgibaud 1902

This is a small photograph of the Château-Dauphin in Pontgibaud by Delizy. It’s easy to get lost in the sepia tones; the picture has this lovely, soft focus, like a dream. What strikes me is the way Delizy plays with light and shadow. Look at how the sunlight catches the stone of the towers, making them glow. Then notice the dark, mysterious shadows lurking in the trees and the base of the walls, it's almost like a stage set. I wonder what it was like to stand there? There’s something so immediate about photography; it freezes a moment in time. It reminds me of some of Eugène Atget’s photographs of Paris. Both artists capture a certain atmosphere. They invite you to slow down, to wander, and to see the beauty in the everyday. Art isn’t about answers; it's about asking questions, and isn't that just so beautiful?